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Saturday Thought: Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Often we think we know what life is like for
others, but we really don't--at least, not
until we walk a mile in their shoes. This is
what empathy and compassion are all about.

Understanding others in the way they
understand themselves is an important step
in our spiritual progress. It requires us to set
aside our usual way of looking at the world
and adopt a new set of eyes, reflecting how
others see the world. It requires practice--daily
practice.

Empathy and compassion are gifts and skills of
the heart. They are not textbook lessons to be
learned and acquired. They require us to look
at ourselves on the deepest level and see how
we see--ourselves and others. Many of the
spiritual masters refer to empathy and compassion
as a "new way of seeing."

May we look at the world this wonderful
Saturday morning with an open and compassionate
heart and mind.

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