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DiggFor a World of Good
A letter from the Rev. Dr. James H. Cooper
God called the world good — and in so doing created a theological ideal to which we might aspire. It is up to us to work together as one, ensuring that the world is as good as God originally envisioned.
There may be some value in exploring the relationship between God’s goodness and human empathy. Past issues of Trinity News feature themes readily associated with the Church: sabbath, Lenten wilderness, reconciliation, stewardship.This issue is exploratory, asking if empathy might have a firmer place in our lexicon.
Empathy lies at the heart of the pastoral impulse, and the partnerships churches enter into locally and worldwide. I often think that empathy plays a role in conflict resolution, whether between nations or spouses. Speaking personally, education by empathy can be very powerful: visiting Thailand after the 2004 tsunami, I learned that for my hosts, ground zero was where the waves hit worst; it had nothing to do with 16 acres in lower Manhattan.
Empathy requires that we define ourselves by what we share. St. Paul counseled us to see ourselves as part of a single body, and Jesus asked that we love our neighbor as ourselves, as though we are one.As a Church that fosters empathy, we have one more tool at our disposal in living our lives for a world of good.
--The Rev. Dr. James H. Cooper, Rector
