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Timberlake Earth Sanctuary

“Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

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.’ “

– Matthew 22: 36-39

I’ve heard this passage hundreds, if not thousands, of times over the years.  But this week was different.  I literally had to stop and sit quietly while I tried to put my finger on what had changed.

I finally realized that every time I’d heard this – every single time – my brain stopped at the word neighbor.  I always heard the commandment as “Love your neighbor.”  This week, though, the rest of the message finally clicked into place.  Love your neighbor as yourself.

This shift in emphasis brought with it a whole new meaning.  Yes, I’m called to love my neighbors, but I’m also called to love myself.  It was as if a veil had been lifted and I was looking at everything anew.

I have to love myself wholly before I can really know how to love my neighbor.  How many people do I know who don’t really love themselves?  With this ability missing in their lives, is it any surprise they don’t know how to love the people around them?

I’ve realized that I’m called to show myself grace.  What a beautiful gift.