I began today in my office and this magnificent sunrise was peeping in the blinds. I couldn't help but be stopped by the glory rays streaming in and warming the space that I love to write in. Just a few hours earlier this space was still sleeping in darkness and had yet to be illuminated by the morning light.
Several days ago an old friend called me in the middle of the night, 4:44AM to be precise and I didn't see the missed call until morning. We played phone tag for several days and we finally connected this afternoon. They weren't even aware that they had called me and felt disturbed that they had called at such an early hour. I simply expressed my gratitude that we had re-connected. We caught up on life and the events that have been transpiring for each of us. My friend and I are both counselors, so we spoke a bit about our work and how life brings us some remarkable experiences to help us along with our evolution as spiritual beings...The old adage, that we are spiritual beings having a human experience came to the forefront of our conversation. We spoke of our own personal journey's, joys, heartbreaks, and life experiences. His words echoed off of my heart...It was one of those conversations in which you're pretty sure you had an angelic visit. His dialogue today brought such clarity that a 4:44AM call couldn't of offered. If ever I question that the Universe isn't present and supporting my growth....
"Sarah, all of these experiences that we have can't often be measured or explained in Earthly terms. Sometimes we must love the questions as much as we love the answers. All I can share from my experience is that there is a difference between empathy and sympathy. The events of your life that are unexplainable have fostered empathy for you to help others. You don't have sympathy for their struggles, for their joys, for their heartbreak, you have empathy because you have lived experiences that have created more compassion, more understanding and more grace to accept that which has no Earthly explanation. It is not your job to judge, it is your job as a soul to love. You haven't a clue why someone is going through this experience in their life, that is between them and Spirit. As someone who works with others, your job is to simply hold a safe space full of empathy and allow their process to organically unfold." I'm pretty sure by the end of our conversation my eyes were brimming with tears, tears of gratitude for all of the ways that this conversation blessed me, renewed me, and allowed me to feel such connection to Spirit. Empathy can be defined as, "Understanding what others are feeling because you have experienced it yourself or can put yourself in their shoes." Sympathy can be defined as, "Acknowledging another person's emotional hardships and providing comfort and assurance.
It is my prayer that my work as a soul fosters empathy with my clients, with my life experiences and with this amazing journey. It is truly our job as spiritual beings to harness our experiences in life and use them as vehicles of empathy. We may not always understand the wounds as Rumi says, but they are truly the space where the light enters us.
May you Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah