Self-Absorption (Part 2)

Part 1

It's Not About You

Life is not all about you. It never has been nor will it ever be. If you were lucky enough to be lavished with attention as a child or the center of your parent's universe, cherish those memories, because that's the last time you will ever feel that way! If you are lucky enough to have a spouse, friend or relative who thinks you are the greatest thing since sliced bread, cherish them, show them your love and appreciation in tangible ways and acknowledge all the goodness they have brought to your life. 99% of the people you meet in life will not think that way, so make sure you value those who do. And, an even better strategy to receiving love is this - instead of waiting for someone to make you the 'love' of his or her life, make someone the 'love' of your life. Shower that person with kindness, gifts or attention. Celebrate that person. Celebrate who they are and what they are all about. If that person likes to shop, remember sales you have seen or pick things up for that person when you're at the mall. If that person loves dolphins, make sure you find a dolphin card, ring or pendant to give them often as gifts. Make a special effort to remember birthdays or other special days in that person's life. This person could be your mother, your best friend, a co-worker, or someone that you see at church. Anybody! And here's an extra bonus - by showing open-ended love to someone else, you open them up to showing that kind of love to someone else. And for that someone else to show that kind of love to someone else. And the love you have shown will continue to grow.

Be A Light

Practice showing kindness to your friends, neighbors and co-workers. Spend the day saying 'Good Morning', 'Good Afternoon' and 'Good Evening' to everyone you see. When you ask someone 'how are you' actually listen to the response. When people send you verbal clues about their interests ('I went fishing this weekend') follow up on that with some other questions. Like, 'Where did you go?', 'What type of fish did you find?', or 'Did you catch anything'? You might, for the first time, find out that your co-worker is a widower and that he spent that weekend alone with his only son. Or that he is a champion fisher and was featured on a local tv program. In any case, it brings you closer to him and, especially in the case of those that are unsaved, it brings them closer to God.

And that is the greatest crime we sometimes commit as Christians - failing to show the un-churched or unsaved the saving love of Jesus Christ! We are many people's only connection to God! If we can't show them what a true relationship with God looks like, where the heck do you think they are going to get that information?

Be a light in your community. Always Remember others in your prayers. Pray for people you know. Pray for our leaders. Pray for your church. Pray for people who work with you. Pray for people who don't know God. Practice random acts of kindness. Say hello and good morning to everyone you meet. Make sure you are smiling when other people are frowning. Show concern and be involved in a life other than your own. Extend yourself beyond the realm of your friends, family and co-workers. Reach out and make a difference in someone else's life. And stop, stop, stop thinking about yourself all the time. Your hair looks fine. Your car looks great. Your weight is unchanged. Your wife and kids are impressive. You are okay. So move on.

And if you can't stop thinking about yourself - let me give you different set of criteria: How is your spiritual life? How is your walk with God? What difference have you made in another person's life? How many people can call you friend or point to something you did for them that changed their lives? How many people have you introduced to God? To how many people have you shown the Love of God? What great thing did you do in your life that benefited others? What great thing have you done today?

Life is not all about you. Make your life about serving God through serving others. The rewards will be great. And this, in the end, will make your life worth living.


Religion, Spirituality, Christian, Christianity, Self-Help, Advice