7.2.3.1 Application/Discussion

Loving one’s neighbor is a very elevated value. However it is easy to forget that it is achieved most readily in daily small deeds that are heroic actions. If it is to be more than lip service it must be practiced in day to day minutia.

Politeness towards others is a form of loving one’s neighbor. Especially the elderly, who grew up in an entirely different society respond to this. Older individuals feel respected and appreciated if they are treated with politeness, even if there are some practices of the past that seem strange to us today. 

Solidarity is also a form of loving one’s neighbor. In many cases, just practical solidarity with others is already valuable enough. Even without a lot of “love” this is already valuable. In most groups, the weakest member is often seen as a scapegoat. However, one can also practically apply Jesus’ demand that loving others apply to everyone. 

For example: In the riot police, sporting competitions are often held between the groups, which later have to interact with each other during deployment. There is an excellent rule of the game: In a difficult obstacle course in full equipment, neither the time of the fastest of the group nor the average time of the group is counted at the finish, but only the time of the last group member who comes to the finish. The group whose last member reaches the goal the fastest receives the victory. This unusual time evaluation leads to the fact that the stronger of the group willingly take over the pack of the weaker ones and all give each other help with the obstacles.

Questions: which other practical, concrete examples are there of loving others?