Today we focus on tiferet of hod; or the harmony and compassion in humility.
Empathy is very helpful in successfully achieving harmony and compassion in humility. If we are going to grow in this life we need to remain empathetic to the challenges of other people. We always need to respect their circumstances and their journeys.
HUMBLE COMPASSION
Whenever we approach this particular subject I automatically think of the woman caught in adultery and the way that Jesus so skillfully handled the whole situation.
He had all authority to judge her and find her guilty; but he held back.
Possibly He considered all the reasons why she had come to be in her current state. No one knows exactly what he knew of her past; but they experienced the reactions of compassion that he presented in her case. It wasn’t expected and it took them off guard and made them think further than they had originally thought about the whole situation.
EMPATHY WITHOUT JUDGEMENT
Those things of her past were things no ordinary human would have been able to discern. But; the point we CAN know is that Jesus chose to show her empathy and compassion.
He felt no need to judge her.
His compassion proved her to be no less guilty than those who did not participate when He made that famous statement: “Let him who is not guilty cast the first stone.”
The compassion of Jesus for a sinner saved her life that day. I highly suspect it also CHANGED her life.
RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY
The woman remained speechless in her guilt. She showed total humility and respect for Jesus’s authority. Not once did she argue or create a scene to manipulate his decision.
One sure sign of authentic humility is to have the ability to open yourself up to the different life experiences of others with all of the human emotions they involve without feeling the need to judge.
Humans have such a hard time remembering that God is the only true judge in every single situation or circumstance of life.
AVOIDING MANIPULATON AND CONTROL
When we are truly humble we learn how to create the space needed to deal with whatever fate sends our way without resorting to manipulation or trying to be the one in control of everything that happens.
The greatest leaders let their humility walk in the door before their knowledge and wisdom. When they allow this to happen they develop respect from others.
The harmony that results from this shows up when the experiences of their mission rises to new heights from the respect and compassion that is created in their followers.