Empathy -
what is it? How far can and could it reach? Empathy invites us to hone
the ability to ‘walk a mile in someone else’s shoes’. Now, no one can ever
really truly do that - even in similar circumstances - yet what insight
it would grant us, to try. How different Perception and Understanding would
be if one took that time, to use their imagination, to look into the heart
of another, to realize that we are but fellow travellers on this often
confusing road called Life. Circumstances occur to all of us that we all
inevitably react to, bringing growth and expanding horizons, or as often
otherwise causing many small deaths. Call it Psych 101 for the Common Man.
But it’s far more than that, and when the rubber meets the road, awareness
of the Human Condition does not by any means exclude the insightful observer
either…
Each of us have our own singular journeys, encounters,
circumstances to endure, learn from, or rise above in this living. The
ability to empathize precludes the right to judge while watching - only
to make observations - it seeks The Big Picture - and this is not something
we are commonly taught. It is also not always an easy feat, even when practiced.
The peculiar thing is that most world faiths indeed teach that we are all
one, yet when it comes to compassion, the numerous battles that are fought
plainly show that the most fundamental lesson is often forgotten, or worse
- ignored for the sake of maintaining “Being Right”.
Last week’s piece - Breeding Ground - showed a magnificent
microcosmic example of what it is to imagine the justification of where
inundating circumstances lead to the perpetuation of The Need To Be Right,
or worse, not to care anymore, any longer. Surely the onus must rest on
the observer, for it is the continued ignorance of such manifestations,
the distinct lack of ability ‘to walk a mile’ that in Mankind’s relatively
short history tragically leads us over and again to mistakenly treat the
symptom and not the cause…
Empathy…Compassion…are seen as weaknesses, undue concern,
foolish undertakings when our own personal interests also lie in The Need
To Be Right. It’s not hard to see where we so often go wrong, yet it seems
to be the most difficult lesson of our race…
~ “I am he as you are he, as you are me and we are all
together” - The Beatles
Compassion ~
On any given day
I may be one step ahead,
or behind you;
But we are all travelers
on the same road.
On any given day
you may guide me, saying,
“I am here - Follow!”
And I will.
Eventually…
Gratefully…
On another day,
I will beckon you;
with signposts,
with words,
with the Light of Love…
saying,
“Here I am!
This is where you can be,”
And I will wait for you ~
as you have waited for me…
