They call it "the Platinum Rule." Everyone knows the greatness of the Golden Rule ("do to the other what you would like done to you") and from this arises what could be an even more universal evolution of it: "strive to understand what the other would like to be done to him: and act accordingly".
Perhaps right here we can recognize one of the most authentic forms of love: meeting as equals, each with their own strengths and fragilities, in a relationship of reciprocity and respect, recognizing the value and dignity of every life even in the most difficult contexts. It's about looking carefully at those around us, without ignoring them.
“True love of neighbor – states Chiara Lubich – does not cause any harm[1]", in fact, if we love, we avoid every form of evil, both towards ourselves and towards our brothers and sisters. The first step to loving our neighbor is, precisely, not to harm them. But to fully love it is necessary to be creative in love: Pope Francis reminded us that it is not enough not to do evil to one's neighbour, but it is necessary to choose to do good, seizing all the opportunities that present themselves.
We know, none of us can give what we don't have and only by recognizing that we have been loved first of all can we fully release our gifts towards others.
How then to live this Idea of the Month? Let's put love back at the center of our lives. We love others concretely, with creativity and imagination and above all with deep listening, which comes "from within", from the heart.
Doris, a young woman from Scotland, tells us: «During our regular visits to a homeless shelter, I enter a world very different from my own. I know it doesn't matter what I feel, but what matters is loving. One day a man with a deep sadness on his face confided to me that he felt ready to end it, that he even wanted to die. I just listened to him, then we shared a sandwich and a coffee. And I understood that listening and being present was already a way to demonstrate love. When it was time to go, he hugged me tightly and smiled at me, saying that what we were doing was very important, not only for him, but for everyone who was there. I felt the incredible strength of love. Maybe I didn't "save" him, but his gratitude filled me with joy, and that in itself is very powerful."