Last time we talked about empathy, making the effort to step into someone else’s story.
One way to think about this is to understand the unique lens through which each of us views the world. My lens consists of my background, experiences, beliefs, and biases (we all have those).
My lens focuses, colors, shapes, and distorts differently than yours. My first instinct is to believe that what I see, what I hear, what I feel about the world around me is accurate and correct. You, of course, do the same.
If we wish to create meaningful conversation and connection, seems like two things are required.
First, we must admit the existence of our own lens. We must accept, and try to understand, what shapes our lens.
Second, we must try to see the world through the other guy’s lens. This is the hard work of listening and understanding without judgment.
Simple example: my disability shapes my lens. Occasionally, when I struggle with a cumbersome doorway, I find myself wondering, “What were they thinking?”
Others don’t always see the world through my disabled lens. I’m grateful for the people who try.
+ + +
Important to note – this isn’t about agreement or compromising principles. For example, if I try to see the world through the lens of a trafficker in the culture of Southeast Asia, I’m not justifying their choices or minimizing their accountability. I’m doing something much harder – attempting to see the world they see.
Why try to see the world through the lens of someone who commits such evil?
Jesus didn’t say, “Dismiss your neighbor,” or “Condemn your neighbor.” He invited us to love our neighbor, even an enemy or one who persecutes us.
On a more practical level, Project Rescue seeks to move from rescue to prevention. It’s a cultural intervention, and how can you possibly alter a culture without first understanding it?
Seeing through their lens is the only way to connect, build trust, and form relationships.
Isn’t that exactly what Jesus did?