** A Story

Having faith in yourself and in God has a sort of domino effect, because faith in yourself and in God helps you to have faith in others. And when you truly believe in others, that's when you truly begin to love them. Naturally, you must learn to love and respect yourself before you can love others, but there is something like abnormal self-love which exists in many people. This condition is called Narcissism, and it is when an individual becomes enamored of himself and totally concerned with himself. This constitutes a personality sickness which results in alienation from the community of man. It is a far cry from that wholesome regard for your own self which leads to a similar regard for all other people no matter what they're like- black or white, rich or poor, ignorant or educated, unattractive or attractive. It is faith in ourselves and others which destroys selfishness.

STORY:

During the first World War, Calvin - a soldier in the trenches saw his friend out in no-man's land, stumble and fall in a hail of bullets. Calvin said to his officer - "May I go Sir, and bring him in?"

The Officer refused saying, "No one can live out there. If you go to him Calvin, I should only lose you as well."

Calvin disobeyed the order, and went to try and save his friend. Somehow he got his friend on his shoulder, and staggered back to the trenches, but Calvin was mortally wounded and his friend was dead.

Calvin's officer was angry and he said, "I told you not to go! Now I have lost both of you. It was NOT worth it."

With his dying breath, Calvin said, "But it WAS worth it Sir!"

Calvin's officer replied angrily - "Worth it! How could it be worth it? Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded."

Calvin shuddered from his scolding, but looking up into his officer's face he said, "It WAS worth it Sir, because when I got to him he said - 'Calvin, I knew you'd come.' "