Recently, a Nigerian man boarded a plane in Amsterdam and attempted to set off a bomb as the plane neared its destination of Detroit. Thankfully, the bomb didn’t go off properly and some passengers and airline staff were able to tie the man up until the authorities arrived.

Understandably, this event has sparked fear and anger in many people. Whenever something like this happens, our feelings of safety and security are threatened. That is why it’s called “terrorism.” The act is designed to terrorize as many people as possible.

However, I want to point out that right now is a time of forgiveness. I’m not condoning any violent attacks on ANY person or group of people. I’ve been seeing messages on Twitter directed at entire countries and entire religions since this attack. I won’t get into specifics but the messages are about punishing, hurting or imprisoning millions, if not billions, of people based solely on their religion and/or place of birth. This is ridiculous. The Muslim religion does not condone violence in any way. It is a religion of peace. Just because one person holds anger, hatred and violence in his heart, it does not mean that the entire population holds those same feelings.

It’s unfortunate when something like this happens. When we allow ourselves to feel fear, anger and hatred, THE TERRORIST WINS. This is the intent behind an attack. The intent is to instill feelings of fear, to pin one group of people against another and to bring about more violence. Do not let one silly man with crazy ideas WIN.

To blame an entire nation of people based on the mistakes of ONE MAN is literally giving that one man all the power. Like when a schoolyard bully pokes fun, if you react in the way he wants, this only reinforces the behavior. Don’t give the bully what he wants.

I’m not asking you to forgive this terrorist. In an ideal world, I would say yes, forgive him and move on. But this incident is too fresh to ask for that right now. What I will ask of you is to hold love in your heart for the six billion other people on the planet. All the people, of all the religions, who only want to love and live in happiness. Don’t allow the mistakes of one man to cloud your view of the world. Don’t allow the hatred and fear in one man’s heart to penetrate your own. Love is always the answer. More hatred, more fear, more anger will only continue the cycle and escalate the level of negativity in the world. Again, this is the desired outcome of terrorism.

I want to send love to my brothers and sisters of all religions. Of all faiths. Of all skin colours, of all countries. We are now WELL into to the twenty-first century. Let’s start acting our age. This is an age of love and forgiveness. This is an age of enlightenment. I ask you to hold a space of love in your heart for all the people of the world. We are doing so well. We are learning and growing and accepting at a level we’ve never seen before. Let’s keep up the good work and NOT allow one crazy schoolyard bully to upset our beautiful progress.

Love and hugs to you. May the fear in your heart be soothed and comforted, so the true essence of your being is able to shine through.

xoxo