What a great verse! We could add to it: Remember those who are orphaned as if you were an orphan; Remember those who lost everything in recent storms as if you yourself lost everything; Remember those who have lost their job as if you also were unemployed; Remember those newly diagnosed with cancer as if you had just been diagnosed. Of course we can go on and on...
The thing is, as Christians we are called to do more than feel pity or mere compassion. We are called to empathy. Merriam Webster defines "empathy" this way:
1: the imaginative projection of a subjective state into an object so that the object appears to be infused with it
2: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also : the capacity for this.
"Empathy" is much deeper than "concern" or "pity" or even "sympathy." It is feeling "as if" the same thing had happened to us. It is a short step from true empathy to action. We KNOW how we would want to be treated in the same circumstance, so our action comes naturally and we act according to our gifts.
If we have been well-blessed financially, we give of our treasure; if we are good with our hands, we can help rebuild; if we are good at organization, we can help plan; if we are good at friendship, we can listen; if we are good teachers, we can teach others how to help.
God has surely provided all the gifts necessary to help others in their time of need. We simply must feel motivated enough to offer that help. Empathy is the gift of the Holy Spirit that moves us.
Come Holy Spirit,
Open our hearts to empathize with others, no matter what their need. Show us what gifts we can use to help. Amen.
Joys: a long weekend; Richard at home; morning coffee
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