Have you ever seen a baby look into a mirror for the the first time?
I have a big bed with an inset mirror in the headboard. The first time my nine month old granddaughter saw herself in it, she was stunned. I purposefully kept far to the side. Out of her line of vision. She greeted this "new baby" enthusiastically, reaching out to touch this mirror image. Miraculously, the mirror baby did the same.
When does a baby realize the baby in the mirror is, in fact, themselves.
I guess that is the question I am trying to answer in my life. When do I realize the man at the corner, asking for money, is me. When do I realize the 60 year old woman waiting tables, silently, hoping to blend in with the diner decor, is me. And hardest of all, the angry woman at the next desk, closing out the world, including me, by her steely glances and biting retorts. She is me as well
I think I am realizing that loving my neighbor is easier when I realize they are me. It is not hard to love myself. I just must find her in the mirror.
Nice one, Jo :)
ReplyDeleteI read your other posts about Advent but I am just feeling strangely numb about the whole thing this year. This is the first Christmas I have felt like this (numb at the miracle; it's been the saving graceconsidering I hate Christmastime). Yukky :(
Finally - I have met someone who dislikes Christmas like I do. Don't people make you feel like some kind of grinch? Some yuletide Benedict Arnold. I don't know what it is - the expense, the forced feeding of red, green, mistletoe, holly - but I dread it from October on. I love Halloween (my favorite) and I like Thanksgiving, but I dislike Christmas very much. Why do you?
ReplyDeleteI dread it too. I hate it. I hate the commercialisation of it - that element makes it feel like some sort of creepy thing to me, like it's some great cosmic demonic joke or something that Coca Cola has got foisted on us. I hate the enforced getting together with people who don't even believe anything. I hate how it goes on year after year because people say "Oh, but after all, Christmas is for the kids," and so every year kids who have everything get more plastic shit while kids who have nothing die from diarrhea from drinking unsafe water.
ReplyDeleteThat is a part of why i HATE CHRISTMAS!!!!! :D
My friend suggested to me that next year I should rent a van and drive to Uluru the week before and stay till the week after. I think that is an amazing idea! :)
I hate the week before Christmas. I feel like I pick up a lot on other people's energy, and the week before XMas just kills me. So much sadness and stress and anger.
Stupid time of year :)