[derefr]

I feel like, despite the apochrycality of it, there’s a theologically-valid interpretation of the quote: namely, the same principle behind putting on your own breath mask first on a plane in an emergency.

The Bible-compatible spin on this might be something like: if you don’t “help yourself” in the absolute strictest sense — feeding yourself, say — but only set out to help others, then you will fail to help others, as your body will fail you before you’ve done a single useful thing. It is not sainthood, not martyrdom, to refuse to do the small work required to accept the “gifts of God” (like a breath mask that keeps you alive long enough to do the work required to save your own children.)

[ctoth]

> I sent three boats!