Loving Others

 

It is easy to become distracted by the narrow vision of our own experience. We see and have a sliver of understanding of our own discomfort and suffering yet our view of the whole of known history is nearly null. There are currently about eight billion people on the planet. There may have been more in the distant past. Prior to the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia, we know nearly nothing of man’s existence.

Contrasting our own narrow view with that of the multiple billions of people that have ever lived, we should respond with a change in our thoughts and behavior. One could feel completely insignificant and worthless but that would be a mistake. Every person that ever lived or ever will live is a genuine, valuable and distinct person. They are someone who wants and needs to be loved and we have the responsibility as fellow human beings to love everyone with whom we come into contact.

If our words and actions can make life better for someone, even if in some small way, we should. At the same time, we need to recognize that there are many different types of people out there. Some come across as unfriendly and unhappy. We don’t know anyone’s whole life story and should never assume the worst of someone simply because they seem disagreeable.

Loving someone else means giving them what they need if we can and helping them toward holiness. Because man was created in the likeness and image of God, he is naturally built for holiness. All should fight against the tendency to sin because sin is an unnatural response to life.

In short, people need to be loved. To love someone doesn’t mean doing for them what we like but doing what they need. If nothing else, we can at least pray for them and respond with kindness. We don’t have to be everyone’s friend but we can be no one’s enemy.