Apr 17Liked by Lisa Rose (Patterns for Life), Laura E. Wolfe
My mind is blown here—re-membering. That is a beautiful way of realizing liturgy, communion, and healing.
I’ll have to look it up, but in Friedman’s Failure of Nerve, he looks at the history of the word “empathy.” It is a fairly new word, and I think “sympathy” is about 500 years old and then “compassion” goes back really far, like thousands of years. But the essence, I think is what you hit upon—there is a good version and a bad—we do what is beautiful and true, and not the opposite. However, when I think of “compassion” I cannot think of a bad flip side. Curious to hear other thoughts on that.
As far as getting into the pit to love others—it’s a pretty hard thing to do when you’ve been in the pit yourself and have gotten out. But that’s where we don’t do this life alone—we have Holy Communion, and the liturgy of living life with others. Lots to chew on there.
Hi, Jennifer! Thanks for the thought-provoking comment!
I think all of the words we use to describe the experience of kenotic love can be taken in ways that change or invert their meaning. Compassion, for example, can be meant in the Buddhist fashion-- which isn't a bad thing, necessarily, because it involves a wish for the ending of others' sufferings, and also promotes a sense of detachment, which can be really healthy for people who struggle with boundary issues. But such a compassion is not the same as Jesus' kenotic love; Buddhist compassion isn't Trinitarian love at all, in this sense.
And you're absolutely right about the dangers of the pit. It's very easy to get ensnared again and again. But we also can't run our lives as a giant "pit-avoidance-project" and still practice the Christian life.
Apr 17Liked by Lisa Rose (Patterns for Life), Laura E. Wolfe
It is also to go into the pit with someone when you can’t relate experientially, but I know it’s possible. I think it has to do with denying ourselves, thinking more of others and less of ourselves.
I 100% agree. In my own experience, these instances of kenotic love or "co-inherence" (to use another term) are largely miraculous, and I suspect they are direct actions of the Holy Spirit. It's why it's so important to pray with all of our interactions!!
My mind is blown here—re-membering. That is a beautiful way of realizing liturgy, communion, and healing.
I’ll have to look it up, but in Friedman’s Failure of Nerve, he looks at the history of the word “empathy.” It is a fairly new word, and I think “sympathy” is about 500 years old and then “compassion” goes back really far, like thousands of years. But the essence, I think is what you hit upon—there is a good version and a bad—we do what is beautiful and true, and not the opposite. However, when I think of “compassion” I cannot think of a bad flip side. Curious to hear other thoughts on that.
As far as getting into the pit to love others—it’s a pretty hard thing to do when you’ve been in the pit yourself and have gotten out. But that’s where we don’t do this life alone—we have Holy Communion, and the liturgy of living life with others. Lots to chew on there.
Hi, Jennifer! Thanks for the thought-provoking comment!
I think all of the words we use to describe the experience of kenotic love can be taken in ways that change or invert their meaning. Compassion, for example, can be meant in the Buddhist fashion-- which isn't a bad thing, necessarily, because it involves a wish for the ending of others' sufferings, and also promotes a sense of detachment, which can be really healthy for people who struggle with boundary issues. But such a compassion is not the same as Jesus' kenotic love; Buddhist compassion isn't Trinitarian love at all, in this sense.
And you're absolutely right about the dangers of the pit. It's very easy to get ensnared again and again. But we also can't run our lives as a giant "pit-avoidance-project" and still practice the Christian life.
It is also to go into the pit with someone when you can’t relate experientially, but I know it’s possible. I think it has to do with denying ourselves, thinking more of others and less of ourselves.
I 100% agree. In my own experience, these instances of kenotic love or "co-inherence" (to use another term) are largely miraculous, and I suspect they are direct actions of the Holy Spirit. It's why it's so important to pray with all of our interactions!!
Such a good reminder not to be so focused on “pit avoidance” that we miss God’s plans and directions for our life.
Or I shouldn’t say “reminder,” that was some good truth spoken directly to me!