Our conversation drifted long into the darkness and the night. In a random shift, a statement was expressed with a tone of sadness.
“What your country is missing is compassion.”
As I responded in partial agreement, he interrupted me.
“I think I translated my word incorrectly.”
Since his mother tongue was not English, I passed to give him time to correct his statement.
“What your country is missing is empathy.”
It is hard to argue. In the larger picture we seem to have misplaced our willingness to be compassionate and empathetic when another has a different view than the one we hold. Without the two descriptions of our hearts and actions, we argue, debate, and fight. We believe that one of us must win, no matter what the cost. The idea that we can both win is foreign to our thinking. It is one or the other, never both. It is my view that is superior. Our and we are words reserved for those who think and act like I do.
I am struck by the models that demonstrate a very different way of thinking and acting. A psalmist remarked that God “poured out his mercy on them [errant children] while their captors looked on, amazed.” (Psalm 106.46) What if we were to do the same to those we disagreed with.
When someone is hurting, we embrace them with arms and voices of compassion and empathy. We held the hurting in our lives for another time because of the priority we have and give to the other.
When one is angry, we respond with calm compassion and empathy. If the anger is directed an us, we acknowledge their pain and anger with a promise to hear and understand before responding. If we are wrong, our actions to restore and heal begin immediately.
What was lost is found. Compassion and empathy can be starting points for so much more. The goal today is to make them first and foremost in every action. It is a dream worthy of gods. It starts in the present and never leaves.
