Sin Like An Angel

If empathy can sometimes wrong - let me never be right.

To the angels of empathy—
where have you been?!

How long is your vacation going to last?

While you’ve been off
surfing on comets and 
toasting marshmallows on
the burning edge of the universe 
we’ve been down here,

knee-deep in the wreckage,
of a world where politics
now trumps tenderness.

We are addicted to shouting into echo chambers;
 mistaking dueling monologues for conversation.

It’s been a real mess—since you took 
your extended holiday,

hearts have calcified like gumstuck 
under the tables of our better judgment.

We've forgotten how to look each 
other in the eye without turning it into a contest.

We are transactionally kind to each other
—just as long as the camera crews are there.

And when we show actual compassion for
 our neighbor,

we are toldwe have committed 
“the sin of empathy.”

What does that even mean?

Sin of empathy?

—those three words make for the worst roommates.

Empathy is the answer to 
the cold calculus of our age.

How can kindness be radical?  
How can it be sinful?

How does this even work?

I can imagine going into the confessional and saying:

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
I cared too deeply for a stranger,
and now I'm the devil's plaything.”

See? Ridiculous.

Empathy isn’t surrender.  

It’s the courage to see the world through the eyes of somebody so different than us.  

Empathy is an act of rebellion.  

Yes, love can bring chaos and uncertainty. It’s a big risk.  But not as much of a gamble as digging stretching moats between each other.  


So, Angels of Kindness, if you’re done with 
your cloud-side cocktails and your celestial sabbaticals,

     we could use a hand.

Bring your lessons on how to wear soft eyesand your inconvenient truth about the transformative powerof walking in someone else’s skin.

Drag us back from the cliff 
edge of our own sharp tongues.

Remind us that kindness isn't some 
antique to be dusted off only when company comes over.

We’re rusting down here
—breaking apart in slow motion.

So whenever you’re ready to 
punch back in and get back to work,
we’ll be here 
      ~ pretending we don’t need you
—but we do.

We really do.

My God, 
Angels of Empathy,
where are you?

Will you be back soon?


Come and teach us how to “sin” 

Photo by Derick McKinney on Unsplash

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COME WRITE YOUR STORY IN ONLY THE WAY YOU CAN!

Are you ready to let the words trapped inside of you out? Is this the year that you allow the story buried deep inside to start to emerge?

I bet it is. Just yesterday, I heard a rumor from a passing sunbeam that YOUR heart is waiting for you to come and explore it.

Consider this your personal invitation to come and join a community of Unafraid storytellers. ❤️

I have writing retreats/events being set up all across the country up as well as a couple opportunities in Italy next Fall!

There are new online opportunities that have just announced as well! Come listen and write down the lyrics to the music of your life at one of my events next year!

Follow the button below to see if something I’m offering meets you where you are right now. This is your year to lean into your authentic voice! I promise you that you won’t regret it!