NARCISSUS

Just to bounce off yesterday's posting a bit ...

There is a story in Greek mythology of a young man who thought himself beautiful. If he had lived today, certainly he would have graced the screens and magazines of the world. He wasn't just beautiful in the eyes of another beholder; but also to himself. He was the picture of perfection. His list of suitors went on forever, yet he rejected them all. He had never seen his own image, but the praise and adoration of everyone everywhere fixed his worthy image in his own mind. Then one day, passing by a cool clear pool, he saw an image so wondrously beautiful that for the very first time he found himself wrapped in love. He reached out to embrace this vision of perfection but when he did, the image shattered in a thousand ripples. He had, of course, fallen in love with his own reflection. Each time the pool stilled, the image would re-appear, but each time he reached to touch it, he would be denied the love he truly sought. His name was Narcissus. Oddly enough, his greatest admirer was a nymph called Echo. They were the perfect match. He spoke only about himself and she in turn could only repeat his self-indulgent praise.

When we are in love with ourselves, we are prone to listening only to what we want to hear. We want to feel good about ourselves more than we want ourselves to become good.

All that is not to say you and I are unimportant. You are created uniquely in the image and likeness of God. Even Jesus said we were supposed to love other people the way we love ourselves, yet there is a difference between loving ourselves and being IN love with ourselves. The former comes from understanding our value before God; the latter demands a value from others. The balance is that neither do we de-value ourselves. When we do that, we deny the value the Divine has given us. What is more, when we treat others as immeasurably valuable, we ourselves then become more valuable.

We need to break free from the reflection in the pool - or maybe better yet - we need to stop and take an actual good look in the mirror at ourselves and realize that our need for love and value is placed inside us by God and that He is the only One who can ultimately fulfill it.

And be blessed.