Going My Way. Today

The month of September has seen many deaths, one being Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality who co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point. 

I liked Charlie Kirk, even though I did not agree with all his views.  However, Kirk went head-on with his opponents, not shying away, and tried to hopefully find some middle-ground.  This is what we all should be doing, not stand in our corners, beating our chests, keeping steadfast in our ways.

However, there is one of his statements that I would have loved to debate with Mr. Kirk.  He said, “I can’t stand the word empathy, actually. I think empathy is a made-up, New Age term that does a lot of damage, but it is very effective when it comes to politics. Sympathy, I prefer more than empathy.”

Here are the definitions of empathy and sympathy”

Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person by putting yourself in their position emotionally.

Sympathy: The feeling of care, concern, or sorrow for someone else’s misfortune, without necessarily experiencing their emotions yourself.

Both are great words, but it is “empathy” that asks more of us, that is more powerful.  With empathy, we are asked to be put in the shoes of those who are harmed, afflicted, oppressed and hopeless — not just feeling “sorry” for those who are disenfranchised.  This was the path that Christ took as he stood with the poor, visited the ill, preached to those who may have broken the law.

Jesus crossed barriers to bring the world together.  So did Charlie Kirk.  May we all do so.