Entwined – that is what we are. And when something happens to one it affects the whole. Subtly sometimes and at other times cataclysmic. Precisely why with the event of the recent earthquake in Haiti, it has been difficult for so many to not become completely consumed with the intense, multi-levels of pain these people so far away have had to withstand. According to the dictionary, empathy is ” the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.”A state of consciousness most humans share. The definition doesn’t seem to differentiate between identifying with others only in light of positive or negative circumstances, so that says to me that either could be present and one could still be “empathetic.”

After the paralyzing shock of hearing such news, whether it be the devastating chain of events occurring in Haiti or anywhere else in the world right now or any other time, a fog seems to roll over those of us who might not be immediately affected but who are still connected by that human link. We might get very wrapped up in the perceived feelings of the people actually going through the situation that we lose sight of our own path for awhile. We feel sorry, we feel a deep sense of loss, we cry, we make phone calls and commiserate, and we try to make sense of it all. We take action, send money, maybe collect food and clothing, doing what we can to help.

It is interesting the things that we think or feel during times of great tragedy. Some of us feel guilty – for being spared maybe, for living and enjoying our lives, for carrying on. After all, how can we celebrate our promotion, our husband’s birthday, the sale of our artwork when so many people are suffering out there? But we must continue to move forward not only for ourselves but for the good of the whole. There is time for empathy and experiencing the sadness, and then there is time for empathy and spreading the love and light. Hold some of those faces you’ve been seeing online in your eyes and in your heart and send them love. That is what they need from us right now. Wish them peace and strength and shower them with warm golden and green light. And in your minds eye reach out and hold their hand, give them a warm, comforting embrace and a sweet caring smile. You need to spread the light. It is an extremely important job that the world needs always but especially in times of crisis. You share the pain, then you share love and celebrate lives.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at 4:27 pm and is filed under Inspiration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.