ואהבת לרעך כמוך
“Love your friend as you love yourself” (Lev. 19:18)
Reverse the verse: Love yourself as you would love a friend.
We have so many parts of us inside that need love, many of them quite young – the ones who ache for love and attention and approval, the fearful ones and the agitated restless ones who can’t settle down, and the angry ones and the sad, despairing ones who have no hope. How would we treat such parts if they were re’im, “friends”? If a friend came to you scared or wanting to talk and get advice and connection and love, how would you treat them? You would be kind and generous and gentle. Well, these, too, are your friends, these vulnerable parts inside you. They are divine friends sent to you to be cared for, sent to you to help you grow in love and strength and courage. Love them, love your own parts, love yourself, as you would love a friend. Sit with them and listen with care. Honor them with attention and warmth. Love them.
Ve’ahavta lere’akha kamokha – Ani Hashem, the pasuk says. I am God. To continually give love to all the friends inside us is to honor the God who created us out of love, and who created us exactly as we are, with all those friends to take care of. It is a sacred avodah, this distribution of love. It is a continuation of God’s work. We were created out of love and we are continually sustained out of love – mekhalkel chayim behesed . We mirror that sacred relationship inside us, becoming a funnel for love, taking it in and spreading it to all the vulnerable inside us – and soon enough, outside, too – to everyone who needs it. This is sacred work.
