Friday, July 10
You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the
scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
—James 2:8
On an individual level, it really doesn't take much effort to reach out to uplift another's spirit. And, on a corporate level, it isn't difficult to
find worthy causes that need our contribution of time, presence, and energy. Being a good neighbor—loving our neighbor as we love ourselves—isn't hard to figure out.
The spiritual challenge comes when we are so narrow in our own habits, our own views, our own patterns that we cease to feel the respect and sheer admiration for others that we have been graced by God to feel. When that is compromised, our spiritual life shrinks.
When we live out of the love and generosity that God has so abundantly given
us, we are able to live harmoniously with anyone who shares our humanity;
no matter what walk of life they are from, no matter what habits, views,
or patterns define them.
Here's an experiment. The next time you
find yourself having difficulty loving your neighbor as yourself, visualize
the other person as a cloned mock-up of yourself. What response would you
give then? What word would you share? What feelings
would you want to encourage? What sensitivity would you
offer?
In truth, the full gift of our own humanity is experienced only when we are able to rejoice in the humanity of others.
Gracious God, let my eyes and heart be so open to others that I see them through your eyes of love.