Do you think of vulnerability as courage and leadership? Have you ever been involved in a conversation about trivial matters when someone changes the whole tone of the engagement by expressing a personal vulnerability? This takes the whole conversation to a deeper level and opens the door for others to move in the same direction, but someone has to go first. The one who does so is expressing courage and leadership by directing the conversation for the benefit of all. If you don’t like small talk you can disengage from it or you can steer it into deeper waters.

You don’t have to be a believer to realize that people have a sense of presence. This is illustrated by modern communications that allow you to exchange information with someone over a distance. Yet as much as people embrace the technology, they still acknowledge that physical proximity makes a difference, and is better where the connection is desirable. There is no substitute for being together. You cannot see me, but have you not already discerned my presence? Believers refer to it as if it were nearly tangible.

What do you think of the idea of surrender? Is this the worst thing that can happen to you, as a fugitive with no chance to escape or a solider facing certain defeat? This concept is normally associated with defeat and loss of control, freedom, agency, and autonomy; the things you hold most dear. Yet I have called you surrender to me. Can you see why this call meets with resistance from those on the outside who don’t understand? What has been your experience with surrender to me? For I am not calling you to surrender to domination, but to love which gives you life.

Do you know the difference between empathy and sympathy? These terms sound similar, but they have different meanings. Sympathy is feeling for and empathy is feeling with. If these still sound similar consider the concept of feeling sorry for. This can also be described as pity and it is something that can be done from a distance, with no personal relationship or connection. Empathy is not something that can be expressed with detachment. It requires a sense of solidarity with the one who is suffering.