  the gospel today was the parable of the good samaritan... and i've been thinking a lot about the message of the core of that reading.
the main verse is luke 10:27 -- "you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. " To this Jesus replies, "do this and you shall live (eternal life). " i guess the thing that i struggle with the most when it comes to this verse is the idea of loving your neighbor as yourself.
i suppose that was a great answer two millennia ago, but today it seems a bit more complicated than that. we live in a world in which self-help books clog the shelves, therapy is commonplace, and suicide is prevalent. what good is it to love your neighbor as yourself when you hate yourself? does that mean we should love our neighbors more than we love ourselves or simply love ourselves more? how does one love oneself without becoming egotistical or self centered? how does one love oneself while still acknowledging all of one's flaws and mistakes?
in that vein, i've been thinking a great deal about what it means to love yourself when it comes to relationships (romantic and otherwise). it seems like there are two schools of conflicting advice, even within the so-called Christian community. one side tells us to be selfless (especially women), give of yourself completely, and to expect nothing in return. adherents of this perspective tell women that we should sublimate our feelings, wait on men to make the first moves, put up with it when men refuse to share their feelings, and let men be in charge. (granted, perhaps this is an oversimplification of such a viewpoint, but it seems to be the thrust of a great deal of evangelical Christian "singles" and "dating" books).
on the other hand, mainstream society tells us to stand up for who we are and what we believe, to expect reciprocity, to demand equality, to not be afraid to make the first move, to not be afraid to cut ties when the going gets rough and to generally not put up with playing second fiddle to anyone or anything. i guess, as with all things, the best way is somewhere in the middle. i think it is important to give completely of yourself while still "guarding your heart" - but how is that possible?
is it possible to be selfless and yet protect yourself from getting trampled? i suppose it all comes down to the first part of the lesson - love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind - because that is a prerequisite to loving someone else. when we let the world cloud our vision and allow others to distract our gaze from God is when we find ourselves unable to love ourselves, and subsequently, unable to love our neighbor. we love because He first loved us, and we love Him first because He is love. that is my prayer today - that i focus on loving God first and foremost with all my heart, soul, and mind.
then, with His grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit will i be able to love myself and, in turn, my neighbor as myself. amen. 
