It is amazing how complicated it can be or become when you try to love people.  When you try to love your neighbor as yourself—the Great Commandment.  We put ourselves out there.  They put themselves out there.  We reach out.  We get involved.  We pray for them.  However, when those we are trying to love go to places that we cannot reach or go, it appears we are not loving them.  When we realize they need professional care that we cannot provide.  It becomes very complicated of how to love and continue loving our neighbor.  We cannot give up.  Our hope has to maintain itself even if we have to step back for those we are trying to love.  It hurts us to step back.  We do feel selfish.  I really feel this is why some people would rather write a check to a far off charity, or pack up some items for someone they will never see, than to love someone right next to them at work.  I am not denying that we are responsible for everyone in this universe of time, but we can start right where we are at the moment.  Some people simply do not feel selfish, but I feel those of us really trying to follow humanity’s greatest rule do feel this way when we cannot give love the way we know we should.  Some people do seek to hurt others, but I truly believe that most of us do not want to hurt others.  Our greatest job becomes providing prayers for that neighbor.  Our greatest job is to not lose hope for them.  Our greatest job is loving the person right beside us at the stop light.  Our greatest job is knowing God has a much larger plan than we do for that neighbor, and we can still love them from afar without abandoning them.

Humanity’s Self

Growing up opens your eyes to parts of humanity you would rather not see.

Niceness becomes smaller and smaller as truth becomes larger and larger.

People, thus humanity, are selfish.

They like to pretend to be nice, but in the end, they seek things for self.

 

If they can be nice far from home,

Where they are not committed to others—

They are comfortable. 

They satisfy self without commitment.

 

But when niceness is required in their daily space and time,

Self seeps in and the needs of others becomes thorns in their character.

Growing up shows us this in people, family, friends, and colleagues,

Who we never dreamed could be this selfish.

 

This brings sadness to the world of one who surely believed that humanity was good in spirit and soul,

Close at home and far away.

But the reality is that others put self above others.

The reality is also that others are then appalled when someone else places their needs above them.

 

The hurt and pain of others and the reason for this prioritizing becomes an inconvenience.

Is this humanity’s greatest sin?

Is this what Jesus meant when he said “Love their neighbor as thyself.”?

There is no wonder that the reason this commandment or parable is so difficult to live.

 

Self always gets in the way.

Growing up with humanity hurts not only the heart,

But also the soul and spirit.

Hope must help humanity carry out the great commandment.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

It is so hard for us all to trust.  And that is what we have been talking about today—Trust.  Trust that your neighbor will accept your love.  Trust that love can be stepping away as well as going forward.  Love this week even if you do have to step back for a moment.  Stepping back for a moment does not mean to abandon.  Try to not let self get in the way this week of loving those that need it!

Thanks so much for being with me this week.  I have left off the reflections lately.  If those were helpful, please let me know, because I would certainly reconsider providing those!  Happy neighboring!

Love,

Rennae

 

Journey