All my Christian life I have been trying to find the way to do that. It has been a challenge to love the neighbor who allows his dog to bark at two o’clock in the morning or in rush hour, being cut off or tailgated. There are just so many opportunities to learn how to love thy neighbhoor. Opportunities which tend to be ignored or overlooked. Even so, I am at my wits end in trying to find the way to give my love as the commandment tells me.

Part, if not all, of the problem lies in my inability to overcome the egocentric part of my Being. Overcoming or loosing the self or dying to the self is the equivalent of overcoming the ego. The ego that is always right. The ego which does not seek friends, but allies. The ego which holds me seperate from all that is, and particularly, my neighbor. Spiritual brotherhood is far too esoteric for the majority of us to embrace as  a way to love our neighbor. We subscribe to tribal loyalties and ignore the love for our fellow man. The tribal I speak of is manifested as Democrat, Republican, Black, White, Rich, Poor and this list of conditions for every tribe is the very list that seperates us and becomes the major obstacle we must overcome. I see no other way to embrace the love required without understanding our commonality as fellow humans.

This commonality part is a major conflict for the majority of tribal cultures. Accepting the kinship with those of different Nationalities, skin color, political affiliations etc. is a product of early childhood and the upbring of the “tribe”. The difficulty in removing this belief system is to great for all but the very strong of character. It is virtually impossible while associated with the tribal members.

What does this say? Isolation? Re-programming?

I think it says huge dedication, determination, and in the end, unshakable faith in the the promise of the Divine. The work which requires so much effort comes in the form of clearing the negative emotions and harmful discordant belief system. This can be a life long effort or an instaneous epiphany. Unfortunately, for me, it has been life long and like my golf swing, once I think I have it figured out, I hit into the water.

The numerous Spiritual traditions all advocate and sermonize the need to love your neighbor. Why is it we still fight wars and loathe one another? Does the answer begin with the barking dog next door? Yes, but in tandem with the effort to change and to love. One, first, must allow others to be different, then surrender and be vulnerable to those we share this life. We must also realize the unique place we hold in the heart of the divine and come to love ourselves. We are All worthy, We are All heirs.