Empathy

Hey... we're in Asia. It's super fun and everyone thinks Jimmy and I are married (defying all laws of compatibility, not to mention legality). I am really loving the Lord these days.

Current reflections:

First, before I start some quasi-metaphysical musings on the idea of empathy, ten Riel (that's the currency here) to the first person who can tell me the source of the following quote:

"come see what it's like to walk a mile in Oscar's shoes, or try on Phyllis's pants."

Ok, empathy.
There is some limit to human compassion, no? The grand unifying element of every human is our underlying (and however hidden, it must exist) creation Imago Dei. At some intrinsic level exists a commonality that cannot be undone or questioned... thus it would seem that every inclination of prejudice and chosen alienation is simply wilfull, never necessary.
So this is reality, but practice (as always) is not so clearly defined or easily put. (This is probably - someone will point out - part of my life long task to unite orthopraxis).
Reality says that the differences between humans are irreconcileable. From our opinions to physiology to religion, we seem to thrive on constructing new categories in which to place people. In some senses, this allows understanding that would otherwise be too complicated... but in some senses it is obviously destructive.

The fabric of society, as it were, is not a seamless unit - it is comprised of the many and varied elements which only together create wholeness.

So we delve into these ideas of unity and agreement and "one mind" and reconciliation ad infinitum (ad nauseum). But that is all ivy-tower and too abstract.

Today, here in this place, me personally... I sit here and reflect on this because every single day on the mission field I am confronted with the opportunity to understand or not. I am given the chance to "feel along" with someone what they feel, or ignore the stress and trouble that presents.

Today we met with a lady who oversees a prison fellowship work here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She was describing the work she does here. She told a colorful anecdote about feeding prisoners ("Jesus loves you - eat the food!") and a no-less-colorful but not so bright story about a 14 year old girl caught up in human trafficking.

What should I feel?
What can I feel?
How can I be capable of true empathy?
How can I be united, on a practical scale, to the sufferings, not of humanity but of the one person before me?
Isn't THAT true love?
It's so easy to "love" nameless, faceless entities (the amorphous persecuted church or AIDS orphans)but it really requires nothing of me. It's easy to bring awareness, make slideshows, take pictures of pot-bellied kids and crippled mothers, to speak from a podium or pray with fervency for someone I'll never meet... it's easy to preach and have millions come... but who does that make me? Where does that leave me? No matter how numbers inflate, won't there always be "one" worth going after?? Isn't every "one" worth that?? I don't want a feeling of accomplishment in regards to ministry - as if I can "check that off my list."

I don't want to seem noble and tout worthy causes... I want to spend myself. I want to be willing to die in THAT way. To feel alongside... unnoticed, unappreciated perhaps by all but one.

Because one is all that really matters, isn't it?

"What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, oes he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And fi he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the nnety-nine that never went astray" (Mt. 18:12&13)

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

"Tell them, that, to ease them of their griefs,/ Their fear of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,/ Their pangs of love, with other incident throes/ That nature’s fragile vessel doth sustain/ In life’s uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them."
-Shakespeare