Empathy v. Apathy
I have both, Empathy and Apathy. I wish I had more of one than the other. You guess which one APATHY Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster.
Then, on some days, I want to switch. Like when I played little league and naturally batted left-handed. I write right-handed, and use my fork in my right hand, but I bat left. I tried to switch, in the middle of an at bat. That didn’t work. I think I got hit with a pitch. I am sure I struck out. I’m not even sure I switched my grip on the bat. It was a moment in my life, my very young life, I chose poorly EMPATHY Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster.
I have had many poor choices since. That one just got buried under the weight of, well, poor choices.
Right now, we—you—me (see how I wove in pronouns there!), have the collective choices and are in the middle, or maybe it’s the start of choices which are right, not right at the time, but if possible, right at the right time. Yeah, I know-confusing.
…about you….
I don’t know about you, but I think we have learned to live in both worlds. We can feel empathetic, where we care about the civilizations around us, the penguins and manatees. As well as not caring about those who want to twist and turn our words, but we care about the twist itself.
I find myself thinking about God, and the humans who drew me to Him. God is someone who, by definition, is all encompassing. He knows all, loves all, and that is all. He invented the world and all who are in it. Whatever that world includes. ‘Whoa, Marko, what about the making it in seven days? Why is it a ‘He’ and not a ‘she?’ What about …. None of these things I am willing to die on a hill for. They just are. Here’s one—why can’t you, me, them (see how I wove pronoun selection in there-again!) be more caring, compassionate, concerned?
Okay Mark, what about you don’t care about others?
No. Not all the time.
That is true. There are whole sections of this planet who, if the choice was between my dogs, Bella and Bob, and, well, let’s stay France, or Chile, or Malaysia, or all three the people in those regions would fall into the obese category of pick the dogs!!! Those places would disappear, and my dogs would continue doing what you see above.
Humans are funny creatures
Humans are funny creatures. We care more about our pets than ourselves. And rightly so. But we love—love pets. Well, maybe except birds. But they are placed here because they are the image of God—dogs, not birds.
But most of the time, I don’t care.
What is wrong with that picture? How can I be so apathetic and be a believer in eternal life with the God fella I know?
Because I am flawed.
We are in the weeks leading into Easter. High holy days! So? The God of the universe manifested Himself into a human and gave up his life for us some two thousand years ago. So? Unless you’re willing to listen to it, it doesn’t count. You have been bought and paid for.
I was at a nice bar the other day, having a day drink and some incredible French fries. I was listening to my friends talk and compare what they were giving up for Lent. A couple said drinking, one said YouTube. Somehow the act is suppose to tie us to that sacrifice on the cross.
Somehow there’s a connection between that and, well, YouTube.
Kind of like comparing Normandy beach landing to planting some begonias. But that is just us humans trying to do, well, something.
…scene of Christ….
The scene of Christ hanging between two thieves is resounding. One on each side, the first challenges Jesus, if He was truly the son of God, to get himself down from the cross and take them with him. Just like Satan would say Luke 23:42 NIV – Then he said, “Jesus, remember me – Bible Gateway.
The second thief, bitch laps the first (go with me here) and tells Jesus, to ‘remember him in Heaven.’ He’s in.
We don’t need a lot of faith. Just enough to open the door—and I mean to barely cause a crack in the opening. It’s not a lot. Just a smidge. God can work with that.
Faith is the difference between Empathy and Apathy. You can get to Heaven with Apathy. “You don’t care’ might be a sin, but it is an issue Christ paid for as well as your gambling issue, your porn issue, your anger at your spouse, the people you killed or harmed in that crime you did five years ago. Tell me what sin was sooooo bad, the Son of Man could not pay for?
Nothing.
So, what we need to do is model God to others. Easier said than ever done. What does that look like? It will be different every day. Start with your own conversation with Him driving your car or taking the subway to work this morning. Ask Him. Duh. Ask the teacher what the answer is. I bet He will give it to you. It will come out, and we will be found. God will reveal Himself. For those who don’t believe in God, it’s okay.
I bet you will.
I bet you will.
Look, we don’t have to care. But we can. God gives us that. We/I couldn’t give three sh^^t’s about someone else sometimes. But here is a guy who grew up in a working household, studied and was pretty good, at the Torah. He grew to give up his life for what He believed to be true. Maybe he was the Son of God, or maybe he was not and ‘just a guy.’
But…
What if….
Enjoy the ride.
EMPATHY Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
APATHY Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
Luke 23:42 NIV – Then he said, “Jesus, remember me – Bible Gateway
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