My mind often takes unique journeys and gets caught in deep thoughts. So my question this morning is one that has manifested itself my whole life in many different ways and situations. The question is, "How do I lift others up without diminishing who I am?"
With all of the injustice in our culture and world, I have struggled with this question. There is no doubt or hesitation on my part to reach out to the other. I have no problem looking inward to examine and discover where I may be a part of the problem. My part of the problem can be intentional or unintentional in those situations, but I am alright seeking ways I can be active in learning and growing in how I can become a part of the solution instead of a part of the problem.
I recognize that as a follower of Jesus Christ I truly need to be salt and light in the world. With all my heart, I desire to love God, love others and make disciples for Jesus Christ. I must continue to seek Jesus Christ in all others.
But back to my struggle, how do I do that without losing who I am? Matthew 22:37-40 says; "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
In my world, it makes so much sense and is so motivating, as well as rewarding to love God. It is natural to love the redeemer of my life with the desire to go deeper with God.
Most of the time I find it often challenging yet so rewarding to love my neighbor. I embrace ways of sitting with my neighbor and finding a way, with God, to journey with my neighbor. It is not without speed bumps, but when I see God work in the actions of me loving someone I humanly have no reason or even desire to love, it is so phenomenal to experience the rewards of God in the moment of loving someone it is difficult to love.
The hardest part of the Matthew 22 scripture for me, is to keep the balance of loving myself and not losing who I am uniquely created to be in my relationship with God. This takes me back to my original question; "How do I lift others up without diminishing who I am?" I will even add the following to the question, "losing who I am."
I find myself alone on the outside sensing and experiencing loneliness because I feel the other takes from me and does not reciprocate the giving side of the relationship. In many ways I feel like I become the other. I know with all my heart my otherness is very different and in a world view I am very blessed. But it is so easy to become lost as an unrecognized other because of who I culturally am.
Please remember, I recognize my need to expand, grow, stretch, struggle and always seek to grow and strive to become sanctified in my relationship with God. I understand it is a journey headed to an eternal destination. I embrace learning about and being transformed by others. But I find it easy to become alone and not embraced for who I am as I strive to understand.
Remember, as people give as unconditionally as humanly possible, they need to receive as well. Sometimes we may become surprised who our neighbor we are called to love really is.
“This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.” - 1 John 3:16-18
Let us love our neighbor, all of them.
Peace,
PB
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