Recognizing the Divine

Everywhere we go in life, we encounter reflections of ourselves, as if looking into a mirror. Humanity reflects the image of God in one way, while the people we meet reflect it in another. When you see someone hurting, if you love yourself, you will naturally want to extend that love to them. If you can forgive yourself, you will also be inclined to forgive those who have harmed you. However, if you harbor self-hatred, you may find yourself projecting that negativity onto others. If you struggle to forgive yourself, it reinforces this cycle.

Recognizing the divine in one another requires an understanding that God abides within you first, and that you see both yourself and others through this lens. For example, when you witness a stranger helping someone in need, you are observing a divine act of compassion. You cannot fully know yourself without also understanding yourself through those around you; this principle holds for recognizing the divine within, as it is manifested through the people in your life.

'And above all these put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 'Colossians 3:14