March 12, 2020

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. –Romans 5:1-5

First, let me be clear, I do not believe anyone should suffer through child abuse or domestic abuse or any kind of oppression for the purpose of developing endurance or character. Hope is not a destination it is the driving force to positive outcomes. We are all called to break the chains of oppression however and whenever we can.

That said we all suffer to one degree or another and how we deal with suffering defines us in many ways.  I was told at the age of 50 that my left knee needed to be replaced but at that time the protocol was not to do such surgery until the patient was 60 except in rare cases. So, I limped around for ten years using a cane, gaining a lot of weight that made matters worse, and becoming an expert in pain management.  About the time I turned 60 the protocol was changed as implants had been improved. I did have the surgery on my left knee, and it made a major difference in my life. What I learned through that process is that suffering does produce endurance. The pain from the surgery was less than the routine pain to which I was accustomed, and the pain from surgery soon went away.

Our life experiences dictate how we view others. We project our experiences on others for better or for worse. Yet we can never know the pain others have or understand fully the things in their background that foster their responses to life challenges. Empathy is an art not a science. Trying to see the world from another person’s perspective requires us to set aside the filters of our being to help us understand another’s driving forces. We cannot magically erase their past anymore than we can ours. We can walk along beside them and support them in building the hope they need to thrive.

Prayer: God of Grace and Mercy, grant us the gift of empathy as we work toward a world ruled by love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.