how do we love?

with this new posting, and the "rebirth" of the praxis blog, i have been thinking a great deal about "love and grace." after all, these are terms tossed that have been tossed around in the church for a very long time - but what does it mean? well, i think i want to spend a few posts looking at love first, then grace. with love, i wanted to start looking at how we are to love "everyone" -

in his recollection of the life and ministry of jesus matthew records these words of jesus; he writes: "But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.'[matthew 22:39]." think about that for a second, "love others as you love yourself" - wow, but then the question becomes, "how much do you love yourself?"

in this world where self-medication is the norm, where abuse causes a lost in self-respect and where suicide is on the increase - how much do you love you? i think many of us do love others like we love ourselves, the problem is we do not love ourselves very much.

we need to look past out faults, look past of outer shell and look deep into who we are and know that we are valued, we are loved and we need to share that love with others - look at who you are, not at what others what you to be.