empathy
Last weekend, I went to see the movie The Blind Side, I watched My Sister’s Keeper, and I read the book Push by Sapphire. Sounds like a good time, right? Also, as I’ve mentioned before, I read the news for a living. That includes reading all of the stories about rape, kidnapping, human trafficking, infanticide, female mutilation, murder, abuse, and all of the things this world has to offer. While viewing these things is somewhat avoidable, sometimes I actually make it a point to expose myself to the ugliness in the world.
It helps me to remember that I have been extraordinarily blessed. That the things I complain about and worry about are often so incredibly insignificant. That this is a broken world and things are very different outside this bubble I live in. Most of all, it gets me outside of myself and helps me to empathize with others. Every person I encounter has a lot going on under the surface. Maybe I assume someone is just like me, yet they’re lost in a whole world of lies. Maybe I assume I have nothing in common with someone, yet we both know how it feels to ache with loneliness and despair.
And once I can see the world and the people in it in such a way, it makes it easier for me to do exactly what I am supposed to do…love people. Unfortunately, my shyness has proven to be a stumbling block towards actually showing it, so I am working on that. I’m always a work in progress.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I’m so proud of you. You are a beautiful person that sees the world through Christ’s eyes.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
We are all like ducks on a pond - appearing to be calm, but just beneath the surface we are all churning away like mad. My bubble may be different from yours, but it is a bubble none the less. It feels safe, but it is pretty thin; and it tends to distort everything outside.
November 29th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
It hurts sometimes but, its better to do something about others, you are a really sweet person!
November 30th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I couldn’t do what you do. I can only handle the truth in bits and pieces. Otherwise I’d probably end up rocking in a corner somewhere. We need people like you, though. So, thank you.