It's time to become who we're truly meant to be

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 04.23.26

Every holy book from religions spanning the globe teaches these sacred lessons: compassion and care for all, honesty, accountability, self-discipline. Basic “Golden Rule” stuff — treat others as you’d want to be treated.

Today in the U.S., we find imposters selling “Christianity” as hate — an elite club for the select few. It’s blasphemy plain and simple.

“Divide and conquer” is an age-old device. Those using “Christianity” to preach hate and fear have been playing mind games with the masses for centuries. People are easier to control if they’re paralyzed in fear, programmed to think “others” are out to get them.

Once we venture outside our own bubble, a whole new world opens up. We don’t need to travel to another land to appreciate the culture of a people. We have the privilege of living in a glorious melting pot! Though this country admittedly had pretty sketchy beginnings, the premise of America was “all are created equal.”

Though we never got there, we have been zig-zagging our way toward that goal for 250 years. What has stymied us, however, is we’ve allowed those who wish to control us to hold us in such fear we have forgotten who we are and what we stand for.

I’ve had the privilege to travel a bit and everywhere I’ve gone, most notably Senegal and Lebanon (where I had extended stays) I’ve found beautiful people with family, hopes, dreams and wishes to do good in the world. And I so enjoyed learning about their cultures and eating their foods. It made my life richer in every way!

In Senegal, Christians and Muslims live side by side in harmony, and honor each other by supporting one another when their families observe religious holidays.

It’s time we rise up to become who we truly are, who we were born to be. It’s time to truly do what Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha and all Ascended Masters would do — treat ALL others as we wish to be treated.

Barbara Sfraga

Sunset Beach