This past weekend something else caught my attention.  Hurricane Earl.  I was in Missouri, but my house was in Massachusetts, which for several days meant it was in the hurricane’s path.  I sat fixated for hours on end in front of the TV, and in front of the computer, watching the news.  Sometimes I watched the weather on TV, while I checked the weather on my computer at the same time.  I wanted all the up-to-date information.  I needed to know whether I was going to make it home before the hurricane, whether I needed to have someone go board up the windows to my house.  I needed information so that I could take care of my family, my property and my life.

In the end Hurricane Earl ended up doing nothing next to nothing where I live.  I don’t want to belittle what other people went through, because I do know that there were several people who were affected by the hurricane, but I wasn’t one of them.  I wasn’t even one of the few hundred people in the state who lost power, or saw some minor flooding, or even had my travel plans affected.   In fact, I did make it back to Mass before the hurricane, and when it came through that night I slept right through it.

In looking at my response to these two events, I can’t help but think how self-centered I’ve been.  When it didn’t affect me personally, I barely paid attention.  When it did concern me I could hardly think about anything else.

I’m fairly sure I didn’t live out what Christ said was the second greatest commandment, to “Love my neighbor as myself.”

I wonder if I am the only one?