The Importance of Empathy

I just read an article by Kate Bowler, a theologian at Duke, with the title "A Blessing When You Realize Everyone Is Struggling", which really spoke to me. She begins by saying that you can be blessed when you realize that life is hard and are aware that it's hard for everyone. It reminded me of Scott Peck's book "The Road Less Traveled", which he begins with the three-word sentence "Life is difficult.". He goes on to say that once you realize that fact, life becomes easier. I have found that to be true in my own life.

Bowler also writes:

"You walk among the fellowship of the afflicted, a club no one wants to join. And while this life isn’t shiny, it does come with superpowers. Superpowers of ever-widening empathy and existential courage that gets you back up after another fall…"

To me life is a messy proposition. We don't get out of it unscathed, and we certainly worry and struggle. Your life is not a beautiful Instagram.

So, in the end we all have something that we must deal with, struggle with, worry about, work on. It's all part of being a member of "the fellowship of the afflicted", or could we say of the community of faith? As the hymn says, "and for each other flows a sympathizing tear". May we have such empathy for each other.