When the accolades, excesses, superficial and shallow are gone, what remains? When the cupboards are bare, the accounts low, and energy depleted, what is left?
What is it that is important? Is it things, memories, accumulations, accomplishments or status? Maybe deeds, holdings, achievements or awards?
When all is stripped away, what matters most and still stands, and will always stand?
What values do you hold true to? What characteristics do you cherish, honor and hold in high esteem? What truths are immutable? What ideas are solid yet evolving?
Who are you, deep inside, when all is stripped away?
Who are we as a society, when all is stripped away?
This is your bedrock. This is our bedrock.
Bedrock = the lowest point; solid rock underlying surface materials; fundamental, basic or relaible
What is it that can never be taken away from you? Your family?
What is it that cannot be taken away from your community, your nation?
Now is the time to see very clearly what is important, valuable, worth fighting for and burning at our core of who we are.
Remove the filters, reduce it all to the basic common denominator, and stand strong and unapologetically for those very values, ideals, truths!
If you do not, you, your family, your community and your nation may very well change forever into a place that you no longer recognize, prize, or desire.
When all is stripped away, I want to stand proud and unashamed for the principles, characteristics, morals, ideals and mores that I am built upon. When all is stripped away there are “these truths” that I hold as self-evident and I will not compromise them. No matter what. And I will not allow anyone to rip them away from me.
When all is stripped away, I will answer to the One who made me for who I am and what I did with what He gave me. And I will stand proud upon those things of eternal value.
When all is stripped away, what about you? Who are you? What do you stand for? What is important you you? What remains of value?
Can you recall a time when you were totally ignored? Have you ever worked for a boss who was sparse, rare or void of positive recognition? When was the last time you walked into a small shop having not received eye contact or a welcome from the worker? Who were you speaking to last when they skipped right over your feelings and emotions and went straight into “fix it” mode?
How did these scenarios make you feel?
Contrast them and the feelings they evoke with that of the Zulu’s, who’s most common greeting is, “SAWUBONA“, which translated means, “We See You“. (My husband and I experienced this first-hand when we had the privilege of spending time in Kenya and Tanzania.)
The greeting “Sawubona” represents the Zulu communities philosophy of seeing each other fully, not with just visual intake but with value and acceptance. Their seeing includes not just the person, but their gods and ancestors. The Zulu realize the need to see each other slowly and as they are. They have prioritized how to feel and listen to others.
After being greeted by “Sawubona”, the response usually is, “Shikoba” which means, “I exist for you”. Wow! What acknowledgement!
This is more than an exchange of greetings or pleasantries, it represnets a deep-seeded value for the community that says, you matter to us, we totally accept you, and trust you. It symbolizes the importance of directing attention to another person and embracing their soul.
Sawubona reminds them to see the other person as they are and pay attention to them.
The Zulu believe fellow humans exist only if others see and accept them.
In our Western society, we have missed this. We greet one another with, “How are you?”, and barely listen for a response. We fail to see each other slowly. Most of the time we fail to acknowledge one another as we should.
This word acknowledge/acknowledgement has been powerful to me of late; both in its possibilities and its cost.
With its absence comes a cost. When we fail to acknowledge people, when we ignore them, don’t listen to them, fail to recognize them, we devalue them. We are saying you don’t matter to me, and they hear I don’t matter at all.
When we acknowledge people, look them in the eye and give them our presence, we are valuing them and assuring them that their life counts, what they have to say is important.
In your family, haven’t you seen this? The simple act of acknowledging a loved ones’ feelings, position, or emotions yields great reward, for understanding begins to flourish because acceptance and recognition has been granted. Both parties have SEEN the other. Both parties have given and received.
When we allow someone to be fully seen, we are giving them a magnificent gift of being who they are, without fear or hiding. Yet, we too are receiving a gift, the existence of another valuable child of God.
The gift of presence, acknowledgment, recognition, Sawubona, is a gift we all have the power to give. It can and will change lives, one person at a time. It can and will validate, and strengthen relationships as well as defuse, and neutralize jealousy, envy and other damaging emotions.
Who doesn’t feel encouraged, accepted, and better understood when someone acknowledges them? It gives energy, purpose and resolve to keep on working, and not give up. It helps us to feel validation although agreement may not have been reached. Acknowledgement empowers.
Those sound like things that we all want. Don’t they?
Everyone of us have at least one thing in common and that simple truth is we each have a biological father.
That father, his presence or absence, strengths and weaknesses; all he is and all he is not, have shaped our thoughts, ideas, expectations, confidence, predictions, trust and image of what fatherhood is and what fathers do.
In addition to the biological father, some have had the imprint of another father (or fathers). Other men, who have impacted the views, feelings, impressions and perspectives of how a father acts, speaks, relates, teaches, and loves.
Our family, that sacred place where fatherhood is modeled, is the seed bed for how we see, relate to, respect, fear, honor, and love our father. In our families we learn to anticipate with joy our father’s presence, dread and fear his presence or any number of measurable feelings in between.
Fatherhood affects childhood outcomes from infancy to adulthood; including physical, emotional, academic, social and behavioral outcomes.
Along with those outcomes, consider these statistics:
Father involvement using authoritative parenting with loving and clear boundaries and expectations leads to better outcomes in every way for children.
Children who feel close to their father are twice as likely to find stable employment after high school, less likely to have teen birth, less likely to spend time in jail, and half as likely to experience depression
The quality of father-child relationship matters more than the specific amount of hours spent together
High levels of father involvement correlate to higher levels of sociability, confidence, and self-control
Children with actively involved fathers are more likely to earn A’s in school, and less likely to repeat a grade in school
24.7 million children live absent their biological father
39% of students grades 1-12 live in homes absent their biological fathers
more than 1 in 4 children live without a father in their home
And of course there are the statistics regarding fatherhood from the National Fatherhood Initiative that state, children without fathers in the home are:
4 x greater risk of poverty
7 x more likely to become pregnant
more likely to have behavioral prpblems
2 x greater risk of infant morality
more likely to commit a crime
more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol
2 x more likely to suffer obesity
2 x more likely to drop out of high school
Fathers are vitally important and how we view our father has impacted how we view our Heavenly Father. We see God, our Heavenly Father through the lens of our childhood/adolescent father awareness. Good, bad, ugly, right, wrong, our image of God has been shaped by our father image.
There is no judgment or comparison here, simply a statement of facts. That image has shaped how we see God as our Father.
But here are some valuable truths that reveal what our Heavenly Father is truly like, what his character truly is and what makes his heart pound. In Luke 15, we find these awesome insights into the Father’s heart and we see how he responded to his son:
when insulted and humiliated, he still distributed the inheritance to his younger son
his son took all and left
his son wasted his $$ on reckless living
his son was totally spent, empty and hungry
his son became desperate
in humiliation, the son wound up homeless, in a pig pen
alone and abandoned the son came to his senses
the son considered the servants at his dad’s place
he desired to return home as a servant and practiced his speech to dad
he admitted he was wrong
he set out to return home dirty, debased and unworthy
The Father’s reception:
from a long distance the father saw the son coming down the road (he was actually waiting for him to return and looking anxiously for him – after a long time)
with great compassion – he saw his son dressed as a beggar, but returning
the father raced out to meet the son, swept him up in his arms, hugged and kissed him in tender love
as the son started his speech, the father interrupted him and said, “Son, you’re home now”.
the father called for the servants to bring his very own robe and placed it on his son
then he called for the family ring and placed it on his finger (this allowed the son to conduct family business)
he then called for shoes to be placed on the sons feet (slaves went barefoot, but not his son!)
the son was home, now it was time to celebrate
a feast was prepared and celebrating began
the father’s heart was bursting with pride, happiness and love for his beloved son who was once dead was know was alive!
You see, the father’s heart is one of unconditional love. Always believing, hoping, loving. It is everlasting and unrelenting. The father’s heart hears our cries. The father’s heart is full of pride. The father’s heart has a plan for us. The father’s heart will provide and care for us. The father’s heart will protect us.
Your Heavenly Father is: loving, kind, compassionate, giving, faithful, merciful, strong, forgiving, good, righteousness, caring, sovereign, shepherd, ever-present, refuge, gracious, healer, powerful, one who saves, helper, and makes all things new. (I have verses for each of these if you want them.)
Our Heavenly Father shows pity, shows mercy, chastens whom he loves, loves us and is not only just but justifies us.
Our Heavenly Father gives life, loves his children, protects, provides, teaches and trains his children.
There is no man on the planet that can come close to modeling your Heavenly Father, but Jesus. But then, he wasn’t from this planet, was he?
So whether your father was a saint or a sinner, we can give thanks, this Father’s Day, for a Heavenly Father who loves us perfectly, unconditionally, and with all of his heart. He receives us, welcomes us, rejoices with us, forgives us, and celebrates with us.
My husband and I, as empty nesters, have been considering downsizing (again) for a while, and are feeling now is the right time.
That is pretty much all that is certain at this point. We feel it is time to move, so we have begun packing and all that it involves. To date, we are still uncertain exactly where, but know it is in the area and hopefully by the end of the month.
Movement is a fundamental aspect of life. It requires action and affects everything. And I do mean everything, including our circulation, digestion, metabolism and even immunity. Movement even helps the body regulate hormones, detoxify and respire! So movement is good for you, me. (I need to keep chanting this to myself during this crazy time!)
Movement, whether it be daily activity, a change in position or ideas, or change in place of residence or employment has undeniable value.
I would like to offer these 5 points that I have been impressed with during our moving time. They apply not only to residence changes, but movement in our thoughts, positions, policies, and priorities. For your consideration, they are:
1. Realize it is time to move – It is important to admit when it is time to move on from the situation you are in. Realize it is time to get out. It is time to let go. It is time to move ahead. Until you can do this, you are stuck!
2. Move to – where? You may not have the specifics immediately, but having a general idea the direction that you want to move is vital. Continue your due diligence, and continue to pack while it becomes clear. You are moving and are preparing while you wait for all the details to become clear, not sitting around twiddling your fingers waiting for more information. Move on. Move forward.
3. Pack: keep or toss – The labor intensive part of moving is packing and with it the emotional wear of the constant decisions of what to keep and what to toss. It is physically grueling to load into boxes your life and all it’s precious possessions and it is emotionally taxing to let go of those things that once held prime space in your memories. How do you detach, let go of those precious memories? Throw away? Are you kidding?!!!! Some things just must go.
4. How to release? Where and how do you let go of those priceless memories? They can’t just be thrown away? (Actually, some can and should and will be). What about the others? To whom should I donate them? Share them? There are things you should share with others – give them away to your friends, family. It is time. Do it. There are other things, that should be donated. Find your charity, there are plenty, fill up the car, or have a pick up. Let it go. Release it, all. Give generously.
5. Support – It is really tough to do a move totally on your own strength. A support team is tremendously helpful. Whether it be a realtor, moving company, friends with trucks and strong backs, or helpful family members; you need support to move. Period. A major life decision like relocating, will impact you for sure in every way, but it will be with less stress if you have the proper support around you. So too with change in our thoughts and attitudes. We need support.
I challenge you, whether or not you are physically moving, to consider these 5 points. How? Why? In what way?
We as people are changing, moving forward in our ideas; personal, spiritual, and political. In what ways do you need to consider or apply these 5 points to your spiritual ideas? Personal ideas? Political ideas?
What ideas need to change? What will be your new stance? What needs to be tossed out completely or kept and edited? Where should the old idea(s) go? What support is around you to help you continue walking in your new found idea, perspective?
Let’s move on in our lives. Let’s not be trapped in a clutter of old ways and routines. It’s time to move. Pack up or discard the old and move into a brand new way of thinking, living, speaking, and being.
Is it time for you to move on in some way? Think seriously about it.
I’d like to suggest when looking at the events and happenings within our nation that you consider the opposite of what you see, as truth. What do I mean?
First, we must establish that the prince of this world is the devil. His is the spirit that rules this world and is at work in it. Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30; John 12:31; John 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4
Jesus nailed it strongly, when he said to his audience, in John 8-
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
John 8:44
What do you see in the image above? A man? The word Liar?
What do you see in the nation? Lies from the chief liar, father of lies – the devil. All counterfeits and polluted truths stolen from our Heavenly Father. Now, what do I mean?
Just take a look at some of the things that have been imposed upon us or spoken and see the truth that is being lied about, polluted or counterfeited:
Lie – cover your mouth and face. Truth – this is the Hebrew year 5780, the year of the voice. Speaking out, openly.
Lie – lawlessness in the streets. Truth – God is bringing His Kingdom rule and order. He is the Prince of Peace.
Lie – lockdown and stay at home. Truth – go, share, tell, save.
Lie – close houses of worship. Truth – where 2 or 3 are gathered, there He is!
Lie – don’t hug, touch, socialize. Truth – there is power in love, hugs and human contact.
Lie – division. Truth – we are all made in His image.
Lie – I can’t breath, the life is being squeezed from us. Truth – Jesus came to bring abundant life.
Lie – death and destruction. Truth – resurrection life and power through Him.
Lie – no large gatherings. – Truth – this year many Gospel stadium rallies were planned worldwide.
Lie – no graduations, weddings, parties at all. Truth – He rejoices with those who are celebrating and wants us to be happy and joyous.
Getting the idea?
You can look at what is happening in the political and social world and very often see it as a counterfeit or pollution of God’s truth. That is because the prince of this world is a liar. He only knows how to lie, counterfeit, pollute, destroy, offer fake, bring delusion, destroy, steal and kill.
Apply this filter when you hear and see things and see if it doesn’t ring true. You will be amazed. Think opposites. Think opposite of what you are seeing. Discern between truth and lies.
Then remind yourself that there is One who is over, in everyway, the prince of this world and That One has conquered the prince. I once heard a pastor say, “The devil walks around like a roaring lion. But he doesn’t have any teeth, he can only roar at you but not bite you because Jesus defeated him on the cross. Jesus knocked all his teeth out.” 1 Peter 5:8
The devil is a deceiver, Revelation 12:9, and he wants to make us think his power is great; when in fact it is a LIE! He is a liar.
God, the Father, sent His only Son, Jesus to earth, to conquer sin and death. Jesus then, disarmed those spiritual powers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them by his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection, triumphing over them. Colossians 2:15
He (Jesus) is the TRUE power of this world. He reigns over every principality, authority, spirit, prince, and lie of the devil.
Jesus said, “I am the way the TRUTH and the life.” John 14:6
When faced with lies remember who’s behind them. Remember where truth comes from. Look for those opposites and flip the lies on their ear with your truth crowbar.
Swipe right. Swipe up. Swipe your card here. Swipe at (someone). Swipe out the two. Swiped it from ____. One last swipe of the mop. The cat took a swipe at me. Gently swiped the brush. Etc.
I am so stirred up about us being ripped off! We have been stolen from. So much has been swiped from us.
Yes, it involves the constant swiping of our phones, thumbs and fingers. In those actions, our time and focuses have been and are being robbed at alarming rates and frequency. But there’s so much more than that.
I made a list today of ways in which our lives have been robbed this year. Things that have been swiped from us. See what you can add to this list…
open (unmasked) faces
smiles
free speech
social gatherings
human interaction
business
employment
education
shopping
entertainment venues
constitutional freedoms
personal choice
outdoor gatherings
religious gatherings
celebrations
dreams
hopes
visions
health needs
family gatherings
safe society
law enforcement
happiness
enjoyment
growing economy
political unity
societal harmony
patriotism
respect
honor
peace
free movement
trust
American values
American freedoms
Geesh! Please add yours. Go ahead, say them out loud.
We have been robbed! We have been ripped off. All these things have been swiped from us!
I am spitting mad! This is enough! No more!
Call me a simple person, but this kind of list does not come from the One who created us, has our best interest at heart, and has plans to prosper us and give us peace. The things on this list are 180 degrees opposite to the loving, caring, satisfying, good, kind, gentle, hopeful, fulfilling, satisfying and rewarding One who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.
We have got to wake up America! We are under attact! We are in a spiritual warfare! I can no longer sit silent and not address the elephant in the room.
If you have never before engaged in “spiritual warfare”, now is the time! That simply means, we do not address the issues we see with our natural understanding or in our natural ways. WE PRAY! We seek God’s way of dealing with the issue. We commit it to Him, ask for His insight, strength and strategy. Then, we follow his direction.
The things we see happening in our nation, left unaddressed spiritually, will not end well for us or the nation that we love.
Yet, through a nation in prayer, the tide can change, and miracles will happen.
Our Great God, Creator of the Universe WOULD NEVER rip you off, steal from you, rob you or swipe one thing from you, or your future generations. That is NOT who HE is, how He loves, or what His plan is for you.
Imagine, if you will, an ancient Bedouin home, a tent made of black goat’s skin; it is made of coarse, heavy fabric and will protect the family in all seasons. The tent’s shape is somewhat oblong and inside it is divided into 2 or 3 apartments by goat’s hair curtains.
As you enter you proceed into the men’s compartment and also the place of welcoming guests. If you were to walk on, you would enter the quarters for the women and children, which is protected from view from the reception area.
Rugs are covering the grounds, and the bedding and mats are brought out only at night. Around you will see sacks of grain piled up, and over there a mortar and handmill where the grain is pounded.
A hole is dug in the earth where the fire is set and several stones are put around it; this hole is inside the tent. Outside the tent another fire is also prepared.
Hanging from the poles inside the tent you will find skin bags for water, other liquids and even cheese, butter or olive oil.
Let’s look at those bags more closely.
a bottleor wineskin
These “bottles” were made from the goats skin, dried and tanned, having been cut in the shape of a “bota”, stitched, reversed and sealed.
These Botas (bottles) were valuable to the Bedouins, for they carried life, refreshing, and sustenance on their long days or journeys. They were used and reused and refreshed as needed if they became too hard or brittle. When the bags were empty they would be hung up on the poles inside the tent.
Because the fire was inside the tent, it affected these empty, hanging bags. The bags would loose their elasticity, become dry, brittle, cracked, and eventually covered with black soot from the smoke. This is where the idea for our title comes from, “the wineskin in smoke”, those empty skins that hung inside the tent and exposed to the fire and smoke.
” Though I am like a wineskin in smoke, I do not forget your decrees.”
Israeli Psalm 119:83
If the Bedouin, now in need of a wineskin, took one down to refill it and found it old, cracked, brittle and unable to hold what he needed, the skin would have to be “reconditioned”.
This process included cleaning it, washing off the soot, dust and dirt and soaking it in oil. The wineskin would be soaked in oil until it was rejuvenated to its supple and soft state again, ready to be used for new wine. It was never thrown away, it was reconditioned, or as they called it, made “fresh”. It was the skin that was made fresh, not always the wine.
Throughout history, much has been made about old and new wineskins. Many literary, historical, and biblical lessons and analogies have been taught regarding wineskins.
Most often, we hear of how an old wineskin cannot hold the new wine, because it has become too rigid, and is no longer flexible. So, when the new wine is placed inside, as it ferments and expands it creates pressure inside the old skin , and eventually it will burst the old skin with the new wine being sadly wasted.
New wine, we are told, belongs in new wineskins. But what is really meant is new wine belongs in an old, usable wineskin or a reconditioned wineskin. Bottom line, the bottle, bag, wineskin, or “bota” must be flexible, pliable, soft, soaked, refreshed, rejuvenated, or reconditioned and refreshed.
There are dozens of applications to draw from this story and wineskin picture. My first request is to ask you to receive from it what is meant for you- as the wineskin. Pause now, reread sections, or think about it. What’s in it for you?
What I feel to add is this –
We are living in a time when something new is being birthed. It’s powerful and expanding and we wineskins need to be flixible and not rigid in our handling of “it”. The old ways will not hold the new “thing”.
Wineskins are being filled up with this new wine and more is coming. It is not the time to be empty and hanging in the smoke of the tent all dirty and sooty and rigid, unusable.
Whether it be political, personal or biblical “new wine”, the wineskins must be reconditioned and refreshed to carry and pour out the power of the new wine.
What does it take for you to speak up? What lines need be crossed before you stand up? How fast must your heart pound before words emerge? What is your tipping point before verbal communication and action?
Our title today, “is there not a cause?”, is addressing those types of questions; very pertinent questions for you and me as we maneuver through this life and our exchanges with family, friends and society.
We will look at it’s setting, it’s meaning and its application to our lives. Then we’ll pivot to two other related stories before dropping the mic.
The nine foot, nine, giant Goliath, was standing on a hill “defying the armies of Israel”, and the armies of Israel were standing opposite him, on another hill “dismayed and terrified”. 1 Samuel 17:10-11
Goliath was “saying sharp things, bringing reproach, defaming and blaspheming” the armies of Israel and Jehovah. (Original Hebrew meanings)
When along comes a teenage boy, David, who’s been sent by his dad to bring a care package to his brothers on the battle front of Israel. David arrives in time to hear Goliath’s 40th day of sharp defiance and insults, and David begins to ask questions of the soldiers. 1 Samuel 17:16-26
As David heard and processed their responses, his heart began racing, the line had been crossed, the tipping point had been reached and he said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26
After this bold declaration, you would think he would be applauded, but instead, his brothers ridiculed and harassed him, and that is when David said to them, “is there not a cause?”.
That phrase, in its original Hebrew renderings, really means:
“I have a word, a matter or thing to speak; it is nondestructive; and now is the time to share it and this is the exact circumstance for it to be spoken.”
David realized what he held deep within the character of his being and had woven into the fabric of his heart was being ridiculed, defamed, and blaphsmed, and there was something that he could do about it. And he would do it right now!
That phrase (is there not a cause) has everything to do with putting the focus on nondestructive speech regarding a matter – but also emphasizes it being done at the right time and place.
David’s line had been crossed and he knew it was the time and place for what was welling up inside of him. He knew his experience had prepared him for this time and place. He knew he was able and he paid no attention to those who ridiculed him. He just bent down and picked up the stones, hurled one and nailed Goliath’s big ole head. David knew a big headed, defiant giant was a target he would never miss. And he didn’t!
David knew he had a cause. He had the right word for the right occasion, at the right time. He slung it expertly and hit his mark. He earned victory for the whole nation.
There is a similiar story in Esther. She was the Queen of Persia and had hidden her Jewish identity to King Xerxes. Her fellow Jews had received a death sentence, so her Uncle begged her to ask the King for mercy. His words to her were,
” Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”
Esther 4:14
Esther realized she too, had a cause, she had a message to speak and this was the time and this was the perfect place. Now, was the appointed time.
She spoke to the King, a solution was given and her people were spared destruction. The entire Jewish nation was spared.
Our last story, is of King Solomon; he gives us a beautiful image in Proverbs 25:11, where he says,
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is the right word at the right time.”
King Solomon
Solomon was perhaps looking at beautiful arrangement of fruit on his banquet table, when he made the analogy and suggested to us:
fitting words are compared to something elegant, beautiful, very tasteful
well thought out responses will benefit all
rightly spoken words bring refreshing
elegant, meaningful words are lasting words
rightly spoken words are valuable, treasured, precious
The context of Solomon’s apples in Proverbs 25 falls in a list of words that are NOT beautiful and words that are beautiful.
Not beautiful, not rightly spoken words: strife, gossip, boasting, false witness.
Our words and their power are being called on. Causes are calling – in our family, in our friendships and in our society. Fashioning responses to hit their mark is our goal. Rambling, empty, babble is useless. Beautiful, rightly spoken words are our goal.
I pray that the spirit of David stir in your heart and you see your cause and know your time and circumstance to speak.
I ask for the favor of Esther to be upon you and for you to see that your voice is needed for such a time as this.
I trust that your words will be elegant and refreshing and valuable to those to whom you speak.
I woke up this morning thinking about Barabbas, an insurrectionist, revolutionary, and murderer during Jesus’ day.
“Insurrection – a violent uprising against authority or government. An act or instance of revolting against civil authority or established government.”
Webster
He sought to bring political revolution to Jerusalem which was under Roman rule and was an active participant in the political turmoil, and religious unrest of Jesus’ time. He was arrested, found guilty of murder and insurrection and was awaiting his due punishment – death.
The crowds gathered before Pilate’s judgment bench and asked for Barabbas to be released in exchange for Jesus. After thunderous exchanges, Barabbas was set free and Jesus was condemned to death.
Barabbas and Jesus…
One man wanted a political revolution, the other a revolution of love.
I believe one can work towards producing the other. I believe the latter will birth the former.
Do you know what lies at the heart of a man or woman’s deepest longings? Guess… what would you say? To be loved? To be accepted? To be wanted? Yes, those are all huge.
But one of our deepest longings is to feel heard. We each need to feel understood, to have our feelings noticed, our hurts legitimized. We find a way to handle it if people don’t agree with our feelings, but we still want them validated.
Don’t you find yourself more willing and ready to do something for someone who gave you that validation, acknowledged your hurt; the one who actually gave their ear and heart to you and your expressions?
” Empathy – the action of understanding, being aware of, sensitive to. The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.”
Webster
When you empathize with someone, you have taken action. You have given your attention, time, focus, effort and heart to listen to their feelings and do your best to understand them. Whether or not you fully understand is less important than the point that you consistently make the effort to listen. For in time, you will see a clearer picture and begin to feel what they have felt. We learn to empathize and can grow in empathy.
As a matter of fact, smart people have established a category of people called HEP’s – Highly Empathic People; and have outlined 6 habits that those HEP’s have. They :
have a curiosity about strangers
challenge prejudices & discover common ground instead
try another person’s life
listen hard and open up
inspire action and change
develop an ambitious imagination
Now, more than ever, in these days of revolution, I believe we are in need of a Revolution of Empathy. A Revolution of love in action that hears and feels the hurt, feelings, and deep seated emotions. A revolution that seeks to listen, feel, and cry with others. A revolution that will indeed change society, politicians, and government.
A revolution of people committed to strangers, who will not just lay aside personal prejudices, but change them, all while seeking to hear broken hearts and try on what it’s like to be that person. Revolutionaries who will listen hard and be open in return. Revolutionaries who will inspire others to join in this Revolution of Empathy and Love and expect big and lasting changes in our world.
We are in need of the Revolution of love that Jesus demonstrated with Barabbas.
In case you’ve missed it, “JUSTICE” is the cry of the land right now. Although there seem to be many messages intertwined in the fervor, the prevailing, and justifiable issue is justice. Although some of the methods, actions, and outcries are riotous rage, still, the underlying issue is justice.
The Founding Fathers used the phrase, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal…”
And our American pledge to the flag says, “… with liberty and justice for all.”
But we all know, justice has not been for all, and that is the issue at hand. So, a common question is asked by many and is found also in Job 8:3 “… does God pervert justice?“
The answer is a resounding “NO!”. God has always placed a high priority on justice, defending the oppressed, standing with the poor, the abused, the needy, the underdog, the downcast, the forsaken, the silenced. God told his people over and over to do justice. Here are a few times:
Do justice to the afflicted Psalm 82:3
Justice is more acceptable (from believers) than sacrifice Proverbs 21:3
Is there no one to call for justice? Isaiah 59:4
Do what is lawful and right (just, justice) Ezekiel 18; & 33
I love justice Isaiah 61:8
He has show man what is good and required – to do justice Micah 6:8
Learn to do right and seek justice Isaiah 1:17
If you see your brother in need and close your heart to his cries, how does God’s love dwell in you? 1 John 3:17-18
As a nation, it is time for there to be healing, forgiveness, repentance, unity and rebuilding of healthy relations between all races. But that only comes with humility, admission, confession and truthfulness.
It is time to look deep with within our hearts and admit what is there, take actions as appropriate and heal the divide. It starts individually. It must begin in each of us.
I trust that each of us are looking within, but I challenge you to not just look – TAKE ACTION. Looking is not enough, change is needed, action is called for and healing will come.
In the video below, I give a list of 4 Actions for Justice, in case you need some ideas.
What is important today, is that we all take some kind of action. There are so many possibilities! It is up to you and where you are as an individual.
But it is up to us to change the world. To do justice. It is up to us to take the baton and run with the message of “AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.” Because God does not pervert justice, it is who He is and what He loves.
It is not good to be partial of deprive justice. Proverbs 18:5
Under Debra’s Palm 