In thinking recently about my relationships, it became apparent that I needed a better understanding of the commandment "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matt. 22:39. This commandment, I came to recognize, is absolutely essential to achieving harmonious and lasting relationships.
I thought: Who am I? Who is my neighbor? Who is this flesh-and-bones person I am aware of through the material senses—whose body I see, whose voice I hear? Is this imperfect mortal, who is sometimes disagreeable, self-centered, opinionated and critical, me? Is it my neighbor? Or is my neighbor's true being as well as my own really the perfect, immortal, spiritual idea of God, created in His image and likeness, reflecting qualities of understanding, joy, goodwill, and love?
As a student of Christian Science, well grounded in its letter, I realized that it would be very easy to quickly answer "no" to the first questions about my neighbor and "yes" to the last. But if my response was just academic, lacking the vital, Love-inspired element of persistently seeing man's true identity in my daily relationships, I would not be practicing Christian Science—following Christ Jesus' undeviating demonstration of spiritual love. Practicing loving one's neighbor as one's self, not simply professing to do so, I learned, is the key to success in relationships. This means that I must always be alert in my daily contacts with others.
