EMPATH
You can sense the emotions of those around you. You can feel what they are feeling as though their feelings are your own. Intuitively, you are able to see the world through their eyes and share their perspective. You do not necessarily agree with each person's perspective. You do not necessarily feel pity for each person's predicatment--that would be sympathy, not Empathy. You do not necessarily condone the choices each person makes, but you do understand. You hear the unvoiced questions.

1.Empathy
2.Strategic
3.Input
4.Belief
5.Developer

So these are my top 5 strengths. A job that I'm interviewing for had me take a strengths finder test to find my top 5 strengths and this is what they are. Some are more shocking than the others but empathy hit the nail on the head. I've been told throughout my life that I'm too sensitive, that I need to let things roll off my back and that I think about things too much. My question in response was why is that such a bad thing? Now I'm beginning to understand that this is the way that God made me. I shouldn't be made to feel, or people tell me that I shouldn't be this way. It's engrained in my being. This is part of who I am.

Now I'm not a very political person. I don't like watching Meet the Press every Sunday morning like my husband does (the big history buff). There are certain things that I stand for (that goes along with my belief strength), but I've never been one of those staunch political people who shove their belief on others and make others feel that they are "bad Americans" if they believe something different. (i.e. Democratic ideas). There are certain things that are very important to me that deal with presidents....(1)their view on abortion (2) how they treat the poor and the misuse of funds for the rich and (3) their view on the environment, oil drilling and the progression of alternative fuel choices.

Every night last week we watched the Democratic National Convention. My husband was glued to the tv with the lights turned low, two pillows behind his head, and the slight hum of the ceiling fan cooling his bare chest after a hard day out in the yard. I on the other hand was in my running clothes, the reading light over my head with my fluffy bed pillow propping me up, my book on my lap, and cool peanut butter ice cream with caramel topping waiting to be devoured. I was half paying attention. Certian topics that were brought up caught my attention but other than that the mood was set for prime time reading!!! When Barack spoke though I listened in Thursday night. For me a person who up until recently was a convinced republican, has now been riding the fence during this election. I needed to hear what this man had to say.

Some of my views were changed, others stayed the same. Something though that has really been catching my attention though is the references to Obama being the "antichrist". I've been thinking about this alot and it's really starting to bother me. Maybe it's the empathy that is deeply rooted into my core, but I think it's wrong to say that he could be the antichrist. Who are we to say? Aren't God's thoughts greater than ours? Isn't He really the only one that knows?

On the drive up to Mansfield today I sat in the warm car with the air tangeling my hair and thought about how terrible it would make me feel if someone called me the antichrist. How would that make Barack or McCain feel? How would it make anyone feel? Who are we to judge? How does that make God feel, God's child....called the antichrist?

I believe that as followers of Christ we need to be on the lookout, but who are we to make judgements? In the Word God doesn't talk about it being our responsibility to accuse others of being the antichrist.
He says,
"Therefore keep watch....So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matt. 24:42, 44)

...Keep watch...