Empathy

Rarely, if ever, do I see advice that reminds people to build and return to a heathy center. (I feel very lucky to have met enough people to help me realize that in my low moments). That spiritual/emotional centre is so important – from picking partners, to raising children, to making daily mundane decisions - it helps us curb our inanity in innumerable ways. Mostly, we are trapped with “Islam on Steroids” brand of counseling where your legs and brain are not fast enough, to keep up with the so called ‘Sacredness” of the Holy One (insert your clique leader here). Shame and perfection are celebrated at the expense of the questioner’s dignity. And side –eye and condescending examples are used to put you back into the assembly line.
This piece exhibited empathy for me. Empathy is the first step to help someone return to their center. As, Dr. Jackson, in his lectures has perceptively stated, One can live with a lot of broken rules of Shariah, but what repentance can there be from a broken soul or psyche?