Dear Graceview Family,
Ministers and elders are supposed to be empathic, aren’t they? In fact as a community grounded in faith, there’s a beautiful journey ahead of us as we all strive to cultivate greater empathy.
Reflecting on Jesus’ life, we see how He defied societal norms by embracing those on the margins. He didn’t judge or correct them; rather, He genuinely enjoyed their company and connected with them on a profound level. Jesus’s ability to understand their struggles and walk alongside them made all the difference.
Jesus exemplified profound empathy, recognizing our innate need for connection. As followers of Christ, our challenge involves seeing the world through His compassionate eyes and forming meaningful connections with others. Apparently, we witness that technology of digital connectivity and social media has failed to bring people closer and get them understand one another’s perspectives any better. So what does it take?
Empathy means stepping into someone else’s shoes, understanding their actions and emotions from their perspective. It requires curiosity and a willingness to acknowledge that different backgrounds shape different responses. When someone shares a story of hardship, we may not relate to the specifics, but we can empathize with the underlying emotions of loss, fear, and uncertainty.
Practicing empathy involves more than just saying, “I understand.” It’s about actively demonstrating that understanding by acknowledging the other person’s feelings and experiences. Over time, with practice, empathetic conversations become more natural, fostering safety, trust, and respect within our community.
In a world where genuine connection is often lacking, empathy is the key to meeting our deep-seated need to feel understood and appreciated. Church is difficult because people are difficult and they disagree all the time. Yet church is by nature a perfect place for us to grow the empathic character as we seek to embody the love of Christ in our interactions with one another.
The Rev. Eric Lee
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
– Romans 12:15 NIV