Do you feel like our world is falling apart? I think that’s a rhetorical question…we seem to realize that now more than ever. What can we do to make a difference in this living so far apart (or maybe even right next door) from people that may need our love the most? Can sympathy really save us? But…what about empathy?
Thank you InterVarsity Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Synopsis from Goodreads: Belinda Bauman was living a comfortable life as a wife, mother, and nonprofit leader—but her soul was checked out. Then she met Esperance. An assault survivor living in one of the poorest, most dangerous countries in the world, Esperance and other Congolese women shared their harrowing stories with Belinda. Their vulnerability set Belinda on a path of embracing empathy. If Esperance could love in the face of so much pain, maybe there is hope for the world too. From the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to the borders of war-torn Syria, Belinda takes readers along her journey to empathy. With cutting-edge neuroscience, biblical parables, and stories of brave women from across the globe, she offers readers direction for seeing others’ perspectives, listening well, and redeeming conflict. She casts a vision for lives and communities transformed by everyday Christians practicing empathy as a spiritual discipline.
I wish I could’ve been with Belinda during her journey. Thankfully, she has done such an amazing job at making me feel like I was right there with her. We get so caught up in our daily routines that we forget what’s really going on in other’s lives. Maybe you are aware. Maybe you’re struggling just the same now. This book is going to challenge you no matter where you are in your walk. I get so caught up in my sympathy for others that I never realized how far empathy can go. Did you know that 75% of US college students cared less about others based on the same study done 30 years ago? Belinda shares that empathy is “leaning into the feelings of others”. That’s deep! This book is an eye-opening experiencing at how to change not only your perspective, but your way of life on how to love on others and reshape the world around us.
Live, Read, And Prosper 