When it comes to neighbors, choose wisely
Before I understood what it meant to love someone I had already developed a love that was so comprehensive, so thorough and beneficial that Jesus of Nazareth used it as a model of what love should like. He said that this love of mine should be extended to all of mankind. You see, the first person I ever loved was myself, and though I’ve never loved another person quite as well, Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus taught that we should care as much about the wellbeing of the guy next door as we do about our own. We should devote the same time, effort and resources to him as we do to ourselves. That’s what it means after all. We take such good care of ourselves because we love ourselves. If we love our neighbors the same way, we’ll take care of them just as well.
Who then is this neighbor that we are supposed to care so much for? Jesus shows us that it’s anyone that you are connected to, even if he is considered low, unworthy, untouchable (as have been the dalit in India, homosexuals in America, women in much of the world). If you can reach out and touch him (in any literal or metaphorical sense) then he can be your neighbor.
My neighbors are poor and dying.
When I moved to Uganda to “help people” I figured that my neighbors would remain in San Diego and Los Angeles, and they did, but they also showed up here. Thousands of them, many poor beyond any conception I’d ever had of the word, starving, dying.
Love them as I love myself? What does that mean in such a context? Sometimes I don’t want to know.
It’s difficult to consider what love means in the face of suffering. Love’s empathy has a way of taking the celebrations and sorrows of another and planting them in your heart. In this case there are more sorrows than celebrations. To love them is pain for me.
It’s also responsibility. I have neighbors in rags, in poverty, in morbidity – living in destitution and facing death. Jesus tells me to care about them as much as I care about myself. How much ought I to give?
The answers are not easy, in the coming or in the taking.
Jesus taught that we should care as much about the wellbeing of the guy next door as we do about our own. We should devote the same time, effort and resources to him as we do to ourselves. That’s what it means after all. We take such good care of ourselves because we love ourselves. If we love our neighbors the same way, we’ll take care of them just as well.
Who then is this neighbor that we are supposed to care so much for? Jesus shows us that it’s anyone that you are connected to, even if he is considered low, unworthy, untouchable (as have been the dalit in India, homosexuals in America, women in much of the world). If you can reach out and touch him (in any literal or metaphorical sense) then he can be your neighbor.
My neighbors are poor and dying.
When I moved to Uganda to “help people” I figured that my neighbors would remain in San Diego and Los Angeles, and they did, but they also showed up here. Thousands of them, many poor beyond any conception I’d ever had of the word, starving, dying.
Love them as I love myself? What does that mean in such a context? Sometimes I don’t want to know.
It’s difficult to consider what love means in the face of suffering. Love’s empathy has a way of taking the celebrations and sorrows of another and planting them in your heart. In this case there are more sorrows than celebrations. To love them is pain for me.
It’s also responsibility. I have neighbors in rags, in poverty, in morbidity – living in destitution and facing death. Jesus tells me to care about them as much as I care about myself. How much ought I to give?
The answers are not easy, in the coming or in the taking.
posted by James at 11:32
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1 Comments:
Hi James,
This is Melanie Orr. A fellow blogger on globalyouthfund.com. YOu felt be a comment a long while back on one of my first blogs there and i did not get it unitll now. I am heading to Uganda this October 7th for the first time. I will be living in Ankole Diocese in the Mbarara District. Working with ACTS. What are you working with? I just have to say i am totally blown away right now. I read your last two blogs and checked out the UGANDACAN website and looked at the slide show deal. My heart is messed right up. God has taken me on this journey to Uganda and i have no idea whats going to happen. No idea what to prepare for. And everytime i think i am getting close, bam, he breaks it all down. "Immeasurable more than you can think or imagine" Thats what i keep hearing. And Thats what its been. And i am not even there yet. My heart is breaking for Uganda. Thats all i can say. My heart is hurting, I cry. I need to pour ourt my life for my brothers. For our brothers. It angers me that there can be SUCH brutality going on in the world, for TWENTY flippin years, and so little done. I am an empty vessle. And i want to be used. I want to make a difference in lives.
James, i am so blessed to know that you are out there and making a differnce. I will be praying for you. And i pray that others would catch the flame.
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