I talked to a complete stranger last thursday during kcm fellowship at carl's jr.
to be perfectly frank, I initially thought he was just another bum getting a bite to eat, but he turned out to be an intellectual social anthropologist.
[note to self: do not judge a book by its cover]
thus began our talk of humanity, God, religion, church, and sin.
as I reminisce about our conversation, an analogy that he presented to me remains vivid:
as the pyramids of old erode from the harsh winds of time, so do our degrees of empathy from the tempests of worldly sin
this concept rings so true at this moment in my life.
I feel that though I am called to empathize with my brothers&sisters, the ways of sin corrupt my thoughts and harden my heart.
the degrees of my empathy are so variable to change depending on the clarity of the lens by which I view the world.
though God continues to purify my sight and cleanse my vision, the world is just as quick to defile it with its lies and deceptions.
lately, I have frequently found myself being confronted with the idea of loving the "unlovable."
putting myself in their shoes, seeing things from a different point of view, witnessing God's love in them, accepting that they, too, are human, cultivating a heart of love--this bountiful list just goes to show how there are so many ways to create in one's self a kind of compassion&understanding that Jesus continually displays to us.
"but," says the world, "it's so hard; so why try?"
it is hard. but I am willing.
Spirit now living and dwelling within me
keep my eyes fixed ever on Jesus' face
let not the things of this world ever sway me
I'll run till I finish the race.
