June 2nd

 By way of defending her fondness for a pop singer, a woman said, “She is all about self love!” A man countered, “Isn’t that narcissistic?” I felt prompted  to consider: what is self love? To reflect on that question from a Christian perspective, I find it helpful to distinguish between the false self and True Self. As I understand it, a false self grows out of the values, attitudes, defense mechanisms, etc., that a person forms within a family, culture and religious tradition. So my false self began developing when I was a child being raised Catholic in a suburb outside Chicago. True Self is a deeper, more mysterious reality. According to our tradition, True Self is in the image and likeness of God dwelling within us.
 
      I am going to presume true self care would be care of the True Self. For me, the movement toward that kind of care began when I looked internally rather than externally for validation and guidance. The journey inward entails coming to know self - gifts and limitations. To use Biblical language, I had been blinded by my false self, but my eyes could be opened, I could awaken to divine indwelling - a Self more profound than my small, false self.

      Awakening is generally followed by a prompting to get out of bed! That is the journey outward. Again in Christian terms, the source and foundation of True Self is God’s Spirit or Love which moves beyond itself. Aware of both my goodness and my weaknesses, I heard a wake up call, a prompting to respond to the signs and situations of my times.

      For me, Self care involves breathing in meditation and prayer to discern what is “right and just,” and breathing out loving kindness. I do that breathing, inward and outward, together with all of you.  Thank you for journeying with me.