Affirm. Support. Protect.
I believe empathy is activism’s heartbeat.
The Church has two functions: pastoral and prophetic. The pastoral cares for people, while the prophetic speaks truth to power — but always in service of the pastoral. We challenge injustice because we care about people. When people are being downtrodden, the pastoral raises its voice prophetically, or, shall I say, the Church becomes an activist.
Some ask me to avoid politics, but that’s impossible. Politics is about policies and policies affect people. If I care about people, I must care about politics.
The biblical prophets were profoundly political. They condemned rulers, priests, and kings who abused power. And who silenced them? Those in power. Today, many in power lack empathy. They prioritize wealth and control over justice and dignity.
It takes empathetic people to call it out and demand better. They are here to serve us, not us them.
Empathy should be a requirement for leadership. Without it, power turns abusive.
Final Thought
Isn’t it amazing that we’re all here, drawn by something we’re feeling together? That shared pull, that’s empathy at work.
When paired with wisdom, it becomes more than feeling. It becomes direction. And that’s when activism becomes something real, grounded, and good.
It’s empathy that gives us the courage to say: This is not okay! And it’s wisdom that helps us say it in a way that actually makes a difference.
So my friend, remember that we don’t speak out just to make noise — we do it because people are hurting. People matter. You matter.
Much love,
David
P.S. If this spoke to you, send it to someone else on the journey. The more we connect, the stronger we become.
