I’ve been thinking about experience, specifically life experience. The world is a huge place. There are some people who will never leave their little part of the world in their entire life and then, there are other people who will travel the world and experience all kinds of sights, sounds, and adventures. I wonder if one makes life experience more fulfilled.
If there’s a native person who lives their entire life in a small island in the South Pacific, does that mean that their life isn’t as fulfilling as a privileged Caucasian man who has the means and ability to be a world traveler and experience several different cultures? It just doesn’t seem like that’s the point, especially when comparing my life to other’s lives never leads to anything good.
I think maybe it’s something deeper. Something that comes from deep within all of whether we get to travel the world or not. I think the second part of the greatest commandment is the part that comes into play here and is of upmost importance. God commands that we love one another as we love ourselves. It sounds like a simple commandment, but the more I break it down, the more I realize it is complex. He commands that I love myself. I have realized that showing myself God’s love and respect can be difficult at times. I have found it a true struggle to give myself that love and so it is an even greater struggle to take that same love and give it to others.
The other part of this commandment is that I love them as I would love myself. Not I would love them because they deserve it or because they are good people, nothing like that. Only loving them because I love myself. That’s difficult. There are some not very nice people out there. There’s lots of people I don’t understand or agree with. I’m not a world traveler, but I know there’s people around the world whose life is completely different from mine. Their values and beliefs don’t even come close to mine. Yet, it doesn’t matter. Even the least of God’s children, I try to love, only because I love myself.
So, while being a world traveler might expand my experience and I would be willing to take the opportunity, I don’t believe it would make my life more or less fulfilling. I think the part that expands my horizons is expanding the horizons of my mind and spirit to see a little of God in everyone and realize that God has a plan for everyone and I don’t need to know; I just need to show them the same love that I show myself.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
