Wisdom without empathy can become cold and disconnected. Empathy without wisdom can burn you out. But together? That’s powerful activism. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
| Hi John, This has been a heavy topic and I’ve needed to really spend some time on each of these emails. I know you’ve been eagerly waiting for this so I hope you love this as much as I loved putting it together! By now you know that activism isn’t just shouting in the streets or standing on stages. It’s also quiet reflection, deep listening, and compassionate connection. This week, I want to look at Wisdom and Empathy — two anchors that keep our activism grounded, kind, and sustainable. WISDOM Activists don’t just gather facts. They integrate knowledge with empathy and wisdom, always working for the common good. Wisdom isn’t just intelligence or knowledge. There are plenty of highly intelligent people who use facts to manipulate, exploit, or justify harmful systems. They’re smart, but they’re not wise. True wisdom is rooted in goodness. It uses knowledge not to dominate but to liberate. Think of the biblical prophets, they weren’t predicting the future by magic. They studied patterns, connected dots, and understood how today’s actions shaped tomorrow’s consequences. Activists don’t just gather information — they discern. They learn to listen deeply, spot injustice, and make thoughtful, intentional moves that ripple out for the better. Wisdom is the compass. This is the kind of wisdom activism needs: grounded, observant, and always focused on the common good. |
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| Pearls of Wisdom When you speak with real wisdom, those in power may try to shut you down. But stand firm — you know what you’re fighting for, and that matters |
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EMPATHY When I talk about this, I prefer using the word empathy over love. Love is important, of course. But it can be a loaded, sometimes sentimental word. Empathy feels more concrete. It’s about seeing the world through someone else’s eyes and letting it move you. And it starts with self-awareness. Studies show that reading fiction boosts empathy as it teaches us to imagine the lives of others. When we read stories, hear someone’s experience, or slow down long enough to feel with them. The same is true for activism. If you are truly able to emphathize, you hold the power to show up for those around you. Empathy shines the light on activism, that yes, it is about something you stand for but it’s about standing for something for the greater good! |
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We Want the Colorful One 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. |
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