empathy

…The reason we’re seeing a rise in depression, anxiety, substance dependence, and suicide is because humans are in crisis. Much of what creates distress is overwhelming stress. Trauma, abuse, neglect, poverty, and injustice play key roles in contributing to emotional pain…  As long as people are isolated, lonely, marginalized, and lack support, people will experience despair.

We must foster empathy by caring for one another and looking beyond ourselves.

As humans, we need to know we’re not alone. We need unconditional positive regard and an opportunity to reflect and problem solve. Ideally, these needs would be met through family and community relationships, but if there are ruptures in bonding, it’s hard to thrive. In many ways, we’re like plants. If watered and cared for, we do well. If not, we may wither.

                                                                        Lise Porter, Self Bitch of a Daughter Blog

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Every day we are assailed by ugliness

It comes from so many directions

From religious radicals

Ideological extremists

Power hungry politicians

Greedy corporations

It comes from people who are fearful

And people who are hate full

It comes from those who have power

And from those who want power

From those who have the money and want more

And from those who feel that somehow

They have been cheated out of the wealth, love, fame, power they want

It comes from everywhere

A cacophony

of words and actions

that pound us inexorably

slowly eroding our souls

rupturing our connections with others

and leaving us “isolated, lonely and marginalized”

We seem to have no place to turn

And the church, which should provide us with sanctuary

Which should be that place where we can gather, connect, and be re-created

Is all too often part of the problem

And we are stressed out

What is missing is this thing called empathy

That capacity to look beyond ourselves, and feel with another person

That capacity to put ourselves in the place of that refugee mother who does not know where her young child is kept.

That immigrant family that lives under the shadow of ICE

That woman who sees her place in America diminished, as assaults are dismissed and rights are taken away

That person of color who fears for his or her life, every time they encounter the police

That farmer who can no longer sell a crop

That person with cancer who has no healthcare

That family that sees the supports that offer them food and housing, taken away

That LGBTQI person who sees more rights taken away, daily?

Can we find it within us to become bound with others?

Can we learn to help people know they are not alone?

Can we learn to accept and welcome

Can we allow ourselves to be touched, filled,

nurtured, and empowered by God,

so that we become those who incarnate the Sacred?

Can we become those who water and care for tender souls

And help them to flourish?

The answer is

Yes!