Love your neighbor?

What Does it mean to "Love our Neighbors"? I feel like in today's society we shut ourselves down to the idea of the other. Especially strangers. I've never been much of a city person, but it seems like the more people you're around, the more you put on the blinders and completely ignore your neighbors. Why? Because to notice people will slow you down, make you feel guilty, and if you started caring for your neighbors, you'd never get to your destination at all!

Here's how it looks for me: Each morning i hop on my bike and ride in to work. I pass people at the bus-stops along the way. They look bored and lonely with their iPods in and their glazed stares awaiting the bus, but I've got no time for that. Plus, it'd be weird just to stop and talk to them, and what in the world would I talk about? The weather? Then, as I cross the major road between my neighborhood and campus, I usually pass one or two homeless people with their cardboard signs explaining their troubles and asking for help. "Lazy homeless people" I think, "why don't they get a job." Plus, I usually figure if I gave them money, they'd just use it at the liqueur store at that intersection. Then the real onslaught of neighbors begins once i'm on campus. I fly past a broken world just trying not to hit any of them. Some of them are in failing relationships, are struggling in school, are struggling with addictions, or just don't know True Joy.

I wonder what Jesus must have felt as he walked the earth 2000 years ago. Did his heart break for every sad soul he laid eyes on? If he truly Loved people, and knew each and every heart, it seems that the sadness would be nearly unbearable for anybody but God. Are our hearts so hard that we've trained ourselves to ignore everyday tragedy?

I think the clearest struggle for me is Giving to the needy. As a Christian, I am called to do so. Indeed, I'm also called not to judge others (mt 7), but at the same time to be wise with what I have been given (Mt 25:14-30). Normally, I use the homeless man's sin (or even the possibility that he is a sinner) as an excuse not to love him at all. This clearly shows two shortcomings (which are really, one and the same) I have as a christian: 1) My pride in myself and 2) My lack of faith in Christ. Lack in faith that He can use my gift or gesture for good. Faith that my abstinence from certain sinful acts makes me more worthy of His blessings.

I don't know if I have a summary or a conclusion for this entry, just something i wanted to get down on paper. (or i guess, down as a string of 1's and 0's floating around somewhere in a box in California)

Thanks for reading,
peace
mike