Feeling With Others

As I watched Justine Henin win the French Tennis Open this morning I was reminded of this scene last year when Andre Agassi retired at the US Open. The ovation for Andre lasted for about 8 minutes and was a moving experience. So, this morning I got a chance to rejoice with Justine.

This past week in my home group we had a chance to mourn with one of the guys who taught Sunday school to Kelsey Smith, the teenager who recently passed away. It was a heartfelt time of sharing anothers pain. These things reminded me of this verse in Romans 12:

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

I think that we are a bit like Jesus when we allow ourselves to feel anothers pain or joy. Entering in can really be hard for some who 'don't wear their emotions on their sleeve' - I hate that saying because it marginalizes the very thing that we should do when we gather together. Christianity, in some sense, is all about sharing joys and sorrows. It is all about loving each other enough to be open to feeling with each other. Consider what the book of Hebrews says about Jesus:

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

When we are happy or when we hurt Jesus feels with us ... often through the Holy Spirit in each other. It is high and noble calling to feel with each other ... it is the heart of love and compassion ... it is what the church and the world desperately needs.