Comments on: Go toward, not away – Empathy

By: Lyli @3-D Lessons for Life

Lyli @3-D Lessons for Life — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 00:16:29 +0000

Love this, Lisa! It was a timely read for me.

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 20:35:40 +0000

In reply to Mandy. Isn't Brene Brown wonderful? I've listened to a couple of her TED talks and read a book or two, but I need to read more. She's good; her work on shame is much needed.

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 20:31:09 +0000

In reply to Krista. I'm glad you and your friend were both able to talk about your fears. That's a blessing and a growing experience. And how wonderful that she did receive the all clear! Praise God for that. I appreciate you sharing this story, Krista. Hearing these help all of us.

By: Krista

Krista — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 17:25:28 +0000

This spoke to my heart so much! The initial wanting to look the other way response…
My best friend went through a season of cancer diagnosis, radiation, tests to make sure she was “clean” about a year ago. When she told me what was going on, I wanted to do anything I could to be there but, part of me shrunk back in fear. It took me a few days to grieve and wrap my head around what was going on. I felt guilty for not being there for her because she lives so far away but also because I wasn’t sure how to be there for her emotionally… I felt like I should know what to do but I was quickly sinking into the abyss. We talked and she shared her fears with me and I with her. She has since been given the all clear! 🙂
Instead of shrinking back, I agree that I need to take your advice:
“lay down the shields we’ve erected to protect ourselves from their suffering; we can ask questions; we can hear answers; we can walk alongside.” I couldn’t agree with you more. 🙂

By: Barbara H.

Barbara H. — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:33:20 +0000

I am much the same. Part of it is feeling awkward and not knowing what to do, but I need to trust that He will guide when it is needed.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 22:10:12 +0000

I love that you pointed out that Jesus showed empathy. It’s something that I hadn’t stopped to ponder deeply. I’ve just started reading some of Brene Brown’s work, and she notes that empathy reverses shame…so it makes sense that Jesus would exhibit such an important trait. Thanks, Lisa!

By: Trudy

Trudy — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 20:58:16 +0000

“He walked into their aches instead of walking away.” Such a beautiful comfort, Lisa. Thank you.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 13:34:35 +0000

So true, Lisa. Our instinct is to walk away–isn’t that sad?–but it’s not what we should be doing. I had a small opportunity to do this yesterday. A friend told me that her sister has been suffering for years with the same medical condition I have. My story brought her hope. So my friend asked what medications have helped me. I was reluctant to share that, as that much information reveals more about my condition than I’ve revealed. But, in the hope of helping someone else, I made a list. I would have wanted someone to do that for me! I wouldn’t have done it, though, without a nudge from the Spirit.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 12:50:41 +0000

It’s hard to truly understand unless you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes. I’ve heard this many times but I believe it’s true. It’s all too easy to judge another life from our own point of view. I joined in on this Faith Barista Jam and it was painful to do. But it helped me to write out a bit about my own journey which was painful but has become healing.

Blessings and love,
Debbie

By: laura

laura — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 12:47:50 +0000

These are such good words, Lisa. I’ve been wearing out Christa Wells’s new album, Feed Your Soul and on it she has a song that begins with these lines: “I’m afraid of the place where you suffer. Where you sit in the smoke and the burn… ” It goes on to describe how sitting with someone in their pain is a beautiful thing. Your post reminded me of that lovely song. A lesson that is hard to live out, for sure.