I spent a week praying only for others, aside from asking forgiveness for my shortfalls. I anticipated a grand revelation, but each day, I met with a simple struggle to keep my mind off myself. People came to my mind that I would not have otherwise prayed for, and I expanded my recognition of God as creator and provider.
This all seemed pretty rudimentary, pretty average. Hey, what if that's the point? What if 'I'm average' is the point? Focusing on self was a natural bent for me. I had to fight every day to steer my mind in prayer from things I want to focus on the needs of others. I use 'me' and 'I' more in my prayers than Dr. Seuss used 'Sam I am' in Green Eggs and Ham.
Am I out of whack, self-absorbed, a narcissistic soul amidst the average benevolence of human nature? I seem to be average in every other respect. I'm average height, average weight, brown eyes, brown hair, and above-average intelligence, which is what the average person feels about ones own brain--whether verbalized or silent, most of us feel we are right in the way we think most of the time. Do you think I'm right?
I've handled grief in average ways defined by books and articles. I've experienced mid-life anxiety similar to the average middle-aged male.
I am average. So, perhaps the average human nature is to focus on self, which seems to be what I've done in this post. Depression exists and there are unhealthy expressions of self-loathing (could there be a healthy expression of self-loathing?) But, generally, we don't have to be told to love ourselves. Jesus told us to love others as we love ourselves. Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and love others as ourselves.
The world needs love--sacrificial love. We need God Who is love to indwell us to help us look outward beyond ourselves, to sacrifice our selfishness for giving time, money, thoughts--love to others.
