[Seasons: Winter XIV]
Winter is a universal phenomenon, but it’s not simultaneously occurring. As most of us remember, the earth rotates on a tilted axis, so the northern and southern hemispheres experience opposite seasons. There is likely an identical experience of winter 5,000 miles south of me . . . in six months.
We have solidarity, which is a unity in experience. But I’m quite aware that my global neighbor is likely wearing different clothes, eating different seasonal foods, participating in different activities, and concerned about different life pressures right now. While they will experience what I do, they currently aren’t. Not even close.
Both an awareness of solidarity and difference is necessary for empathy.
Winter for me now will be winter for someone else later. And when it is, my heart can (and should) be more open for them, and more gracious to their particular experience.
