On Empathy

In an effort to dress the part for the day, one of the first things I do in the morning is turn on the radio to a local station to catch the weather forecast. Of course, like any clever broadcasting station, this one tucks what I most want to hear into layers and layers of seedy stories, commercials and otherwise extreme (and annoying) commentary. I usually find myself assessing the need for extra layers of clothing and then silencing the stream of ridiculousness as my husband gratefully enjoys his dwindling "15-more minutes" of sleep in quietude.

But recently, I've found myself enthralled with what seems like a barrage of history-making breaking news. Pretty much every day. While I'm grateful that I don't have to listen to wanna-be's drone on about how much they hate all things government or the local reporter try to make a news story out of inebriation and all of its magical effects, I find myself thinking, "Wow. The world is out. of. control." I don't know about you, but I am having a hard time trying to grasp everything that's going on. Like really grasp it...you know...with proper emotions, understanding and resolve.

This morning I fumbled for the radio switch to actually give me the mental activity necessary for getting out of bed. The first thing I heard was the time (which was not early enough to justify another round of snooze buttoning), and then I immediately heard about the earthquake in Japan and the tsunami heading towards places where people that are important to me are living. It was a little more mental activity than I was hoping for this morning.

My first inclination was to hit my knees and pray. And then it was to call my parents and wake them up. Which I did. Luckily, no one I know has been affected by the after-effects of the quake. But, I find myself grappling to conceptualize the situation of those that have. I can't. I just can't wrap my brain around what that must be like. What the fear, hopelessness and vulnerability must feel like. I watch the video clips on YouTube, and I feel like I'm watching a movie lambasted with over-the-top special effects.

And although my sympathies were much more empathetic for the Haitian earthquake, with my being in a likewise developing country at the time, it's still nearly impossible for me to feel how I want to feel about these things.

I guess part of it may actually be desensitization to the media. I think part of it is something of a defense mechanism; it's easier to go about one's day when coping in a distanced way with the tragedies that beset millions of people on what recently feels like a daily basis. And, I think a large part of it is simply lack of experience. Not that that's something to be blamed for. We're not called upon to experience everything that everyone else has ever experienced.

But, we are called upon to remember the One who has.  To pray that through Him, we may have the proper emotions, understanding and resolve to help those in their times of greatest need.  And to call upon Him who is mighty to save to bless them with all that He can.