Tonight I was able to revitalize something that had sunk deep within myself. Vanished. I knew something was amiss in my attitude, but did not seek out the cause. I prayed constantly for the answer to be revealed, selfishly, I prayed. I was not pursuing the answer of those prayers, merely saying them – even the right words are useless if they are not acted upon.
My problem was this: during the past few weeks, I had lost sight of what it means to look at other people as my fellows, as my kin. I only saw their quantifiable traits: intelligence, wit, beauty, poise, tact, rudeness, rashness, guile, foolishness, ignorance, and etcetera. I tried to put people on “levels” based on where their pros and cons averaged out. I unwittingly dehumanized everyone in this way.
There are no “levels” of people. We are all born in sin. We will all die. We have life to live, together.
I had misplaced the fact that God is in my brothers and sisters. God, the unquantifiable. God, my God. God, my Father. God, the Father of my brothers and sisters.
I was reminded of Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
I was not treating my fellow humans as if they bore the face of God. I have the love of God in me; my brothers and sisters have the love of God in them. I was not allowing this reality to phase me.
To look at my fellows like this, as having the presence of God in them, renews my respect, my love, for them. Thank you my dear, dear friend for helping me through this. Thank you my God for warming my heart.
I am still analytical; I will be until I die – thank you Daddy, thank you Western culture. But, I recognize what I have done. From here, in the love of God, I can love better.
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