Conscience

 When we are born, we are only potential human beings. The task to become a human being is a lifelong effort, and some—like Trump, Putin, Xi, Kim, Maduro and the many other brutal dictators--never get there.

I’ve often asked myself how it is that denying humanity and choosing evil and brutality can seem so easy. It’s the seductiveness of power, wealth and control and the false belief that these can fill the gnawing emptiness of a person.
Don’t we all have a conscience? It may be evidenced through religion or spirit or soul or may simply come out of an observant life. But we each have one, and we have the choice to acknowledge and live by it or not.
Living by your conscience is not easy. Look at the current state of American politics. Power hungry people know well how to seduce and control the masses. People with consciences are not as good at this. Often the conscience is a single voice—Malala, Greta Thunberg, Al Gore, Mandela, Tutu, MLK.
Conscience can love. Conscience can rage. Conscience is compassionate. Conscience inspires. Conscience endures. It’s a mystery how some are called to profound acts of conscience and others are seduced by evil.