We read and hear how personal relationships are the best...and roughest!...path to walk when seeking spiritual growth. The reason it is the roughest way, of course, is that its singular demand is that we change our mind. That we change our ego-centric mind for an other-centered mind.
When I started on this road seeking still more spiritual growth, I missed completely the part about do unto others. By missed, I mean I read it, I liked it, I just didn't know spiritual growth was about actually doing it...that I was supposed to do unto others as I would have them do unto me. The majority of the time yet!
Even wanting, with a sincere heart and clear mind, to be more concerned for a friend's needs then we are for our own wants does not ensure we will cede our will every time. And then, if we're really seeking spiritual growth, at some point we will stumble across the clue that we're supposed to love our enemy as much as we love our self...or our dog even!
Hard ain't it hard, oh Lord, serving you.
We finally get the paradox: It is impossible to be more concerned for another than we are for our self when we're determined to do it. Our very determination derails us for that determination is all for the glory of self.
There. We get a grip, and in fairly short order learn we must loose that grip and let God. Then and only then can we accept humility as our hard-won prize...won through complete defeat of self. And we are made whole.
Thank you.
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