Empathy

I had some interesting talks recently about empathy. Walking in someone's shoes. Looking at past or present, seeing why they might act or react to the things they do. Feeling their pain. Sharing their burdens.

Empathy can be a blessing, a true gift. The Second Greatest Commandment is "Love your neighbor as yourself". How better than to really look at where they come from, figuratively and literally.

It can also be tough. Carrying some one else's burdens can be hard, especially when we have our own. Pain and trials are fires to test, to mold, to mature. When you carry someone's burden, you experience all that by proxy. James says in chapter 1, verse 2(NIV), count trials as "pure joy". Not joy, or great joy, but pure joy.

When we do empathize, that means us too.