Putin can’t touch this

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As the collage of colors in the sky, signals the arrival of sunset, and another day fades to dusk, everyone thinks about our friends, our magnificent friends in Ukraine. Slava Ukraine! And for all of us, it has become a waiting game. We have no way of knowing when it will end. We wish for it. We sit with bated breath, holding out for peace.

Many people seem to feel that Putin has blundered badly. And so he has. But his inability to surrender — to give up — has to do with more than just fear. We know Putin has always feared Ukraine joining NATO. We also know that Putin has been aching to invade for some time — probably longer than we know.

But now that he HAS invaded, I believe, as do many others, that it isn’t just ego and fear keeping him propelling on. It’s envy. One of the seven deadly sins. And Putin is envious of President Zelenskyy. He envies his goodness, his courage, his incorruptibility. As Trump envies Biden, so Putin envies Zelenskyy.

This is because Putin is an empty vessel. There is nothing inside him. Just because one is a sociopath does not mean one can’t covet. Zalenskyy has everything Putin wants — everything Putin thought he would get when he started this war.

That’s the thing, though. For centuries ugly wars have been started, and it is almost universal that they’re always started for the wrong reasons. Putin not only has envy, but he also has the other six sins; Putin has pride, greed, lust, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. All of them in different ways.

Putin was lazy and slothful. He chose the way of hate to gain the ways of love. But nobody loves a person who hates. Nobody respects a person who doesn’t have it in them to respect anyone else.

Another day has faded, yes, but another morning will soon blossom. It will appear as it always does, with sunlight for many and with hope for all who reach out and touch it. And as Putin rages on, we think of our brave Ukrainian friends. And we listen, hoping to hear soon that our wish for peace has been granted.

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