This is your brain- and how God designed it to work!! (Hope you have already had breakfast- this is not the most appetizing photo). Well, Yesterday we dove into understanding our two systems of thinking: Fast thinking (resulting in rushes to judgment) and Slow Thinking (more reflective thinking).
Skye Jethani writes that empathy is more than understanding the suffering of others. "It is the capacity to feel their suffering, but this ability is not equal in all people and it can be severely impaired by our environment.
A 2013 neuroscience study found that self-centeredness, not empathy, is the default setting for the human brain—a finding consistent with the Christian doctrine of sin. This selfishness is kept in check by another part of the brain called the right supramarginal gyrus. It helps us recognize the emotions of others and respond with empathy and compassion. However, the right supramarginal gyrus functions much SLOWER than the selfish parts of the brain, and researchers found that when distracted or when making rapid decisions empathy is dramatically reduced.
Cultivating empathy, and checking egotism, requires SLOWING down, reflection, self-awareness, listening, and focused attention, and these are the qualities that have marked Christian spiritual practices for thousands of years.
Silence, prayer, and thanksgiving are precisely what's needed to strengthen the right supramarginal gyrus, and these practices are implied by the Lord's command regarding the treatment of strangers.
"You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the Land of Egypt" (Leviticus 19:34). In other words, You know what it's like to be an outsider who is mistreated, so don't mistreat the outsiders among you.
Slow down and remember how you felt when you were in their shoes.
Today's hyperactive, noisy, digital environment, however, seems devilishly devised to shut down the brain's empathy center.
Social media provokes us to react rather than reflect, and even many worship settings are designed to flood us with external stimulation rather than foster inward communion.
Is it any wonder why our society is becoming more fearful, angry, polarized, and incapable of compromise
Mercy ME!!!!!!
If we really want to awaken empathy, grow in mercy, and establish a more compassionate society, it starts by unplugging and slowing down." Www.withGodDaily.com
Lent represents this rhythm of "slowing down".....practicing spiritual disciplines.....and exercising the Mercy upon others that God infinitely sheds on us. "His mercies are new each day." Lam. 3: 22-23
Who can you exercise mercy upon today?
Prayer: Abba Father, help us to slow down today. Guide us in prayer to examine the people, places and things that you desire us to focus on, use our slow thinking, and exert your mercy and compassion upon this day. We open up the floodgates of all our thoughts to give you thanks and praise that your mercies reign new every day. 🙏🏻
Lyn Woodruff in the River Prayer Reflections texting group.
Skye Jethani writes that empathy is more than understanding the suffering of others. "It is the capacity to feel their suffering, but this ability is not equal in all people and it can be severely impaired by our environment.
A 2013 neuroscience study found that self-centeredness, not empathy, is the default setting for the human brain—a finding consistent with the Christian doctrine of sin. This selfishness is kept in check by another part of the brain called the right supramarginal gyrus. It helps us recognize the emotions of others and respond with empathy and compassion. However, the right supramarginal gyrus functions much SLOWER than the selfish parts of the brain, and researchers found that when distracted or when making rapid decisions empathy is dramatically reduced.
Cultivating empathy, and checking egotism, requires SLOWING down, reflection, self-awareness, listening, and focused attention, and these are the qualities that have marked Christian spiritual practices for thousands of years.
Silence, prayer, and thanksgiving are precisely what's needed to strengthen the right supramarginal gyrus, and these practices are implied by the Lord's command regarding the treatment of strangers.
"You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the Land of Egypt" (Leviticus 19:34). In other words, You know what it's like to be an outsider who is mistreated, so don't mistreat the outsiders among you.
Slow down and remember how you felt when you were in their shoes.
Today's hyperactive, noisy, digital environment, however, seems devilishly devised to shut down the brain's empathy center.
Social media provokes us to react rather than reflect, and even many worship settings are designed to flood us with external stimulation rather than foster inward communion.
Is it any wonder why our society is becoming more fearful, angry, polarized, and incapable of compromise
Mercy ME!!!!!!
If we really want to awaken empathy, grow in mercy, and establish a more compassionate society, it starts by unplugging and slowing down." Www.withGodDaily.com
Lent represents this rhythm of "slowing down".....practicing spiritual disciplines.....and exercising the Mercy upon others that God infinitely sheds on us. "His mercies are new each day." Lam. 3: 22-23
Who can you exercise mercy upon today?
Prayer: Abba Father, help us to slow down today. Guide us in prayer to examine the people, places and things that you desire us to focus on, use our slow thinking, and exert your mercy and compassion upon this day. We open up the floodgates of all our thoughts to give you thanks and praise that your mercies reign new every day. 🙏🏻
Lyn Woodruff in the River Prayer Reflections texting group.
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