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Rejoice or Mourn

             Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans  12:15)

This is a verse I haven’t liked. I hate the idea of being required to boo hoo  along with someone, wallowing uselessly in their misery. I equally hate the idea of being required to rah rah with someone, wallowing uselessly in their celebration. There are two popular pushes in our society. The mantra of the first is “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” and the second is “Throw your brain in the fire and just be empathetic.”

For some of us, sharing what we know is how we care. When others tell us we aren’t caring right because we aren’t caring the way they want (especially if they aren’t the person we’re trying to care for) they are judging us. The result is that we will care less, not more.

But that’s not the conclusion I reached as I read this verse today. Today’s thought is far simpler. What if what Paul was advising was that we rejoice with those who rejoice instead of grumbling, growling, and envying? What if he meant that we are to weep with those who weep instead of celebrating, cheering, and enjoying their sorrow? What if the point is that we not respond to their joy as an attack on us or their sorrow as our victory? In other words, what if the whole point is that we not behave as we so often behave?

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