"Self-love or pride is a sin when, instead of leading you to share with others the self you love, it lead you to keep your self in perpetual safe-deposit. You not only don't accrue any interest that way but become less and less interesting every day." (F. Buechner "Listening to Your Life" p. 182)
Love thy neighbor as thyself. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We all know these phrases. The "Golden Rules." Every major religion has some variation of it.
I remember an ethics professor commenting that she deserved better than love neighbor as yourself. She'd seen to many people who couldn't or wouldn't love themselves, and did not wish to be treated in the same way. Good point. I know I get a little testy when I hear people talk about how much they love God and the next thing they say is how much they hate {fill in the blank}. I'm not sure how that really works.
Of course there is also that love of self which is more about notice me while I pay no attention to you. That's the kind Buechner is addressing. A person doesn't grow from that point of view. Mainly because of the second point most people lose interest.
The self-love that knows what it has to offer the world, and does so out of love for that world, is the kind Jesus was looking for. It is the kind that leads to personal growth. The kind that others are interested in watching and imitating.
Sometimes the most amazing thing to me about these kind of folks, is how little they are aware of what they are doing. They just do it for the sake of that circular love, God-neighbor-self.
Blessings,
Ed
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