Walk in Empathy

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.

Robert didn’t want the responsibility, but he accepted it when asked. He’d be a spiritual advisor to a large group of young single adults. The person who’d asked him to take on the task also recommended an assistant. Robert and his assistant would work closely and extensively together. Character and collaboration were crucial.

Robert asked about the man being recommended and listened as he was told about struggles with addiction, run-ins with the law, and a broken family and professional life. The man had hit the proverbial rock bottom and was struggling heroically up the other side.

“I love a man who has suffered much,” Robert said of the soul he’d never met. I heard him say it. I wept.

Robert accepted the recommendation. He and his new assistant worked successfully together for years. I know little of what Robert suffered to gain such empathy, but I know this: empathy comes hard. It may be the most important thing we learn. When we find it, we stop judging and love unconditionally. Then we are one.