HOW Do YOU Feel?

       Whenever, I hear the sound of a 'siren', from ANY emergency-vehicle, I, ALWAYS, say a prayer. As I sit, sipping my morning coffee, this A.M., I can hear, off in the distance, the 'wail' of one, such, siren, from a police-cruiser? ambulance? I cannot know, for sure, as I live off the 'beaten-path', yet, not all that far from the main-drag where some, emergency-vehicle has gone speeding passed. Thankfully, this is a noise, fairly, uncommon around these parts, and, for this, I am grateful; for, typically, these, loud noises, which, interrupt the silence, are 'warning' bells, of a nature, indicating one sort of 'urgency' or another. I respond, in the same manner, by offering up a prayer, as well, whenever I see a hearse and/or funeral-procession pass me on the roadway. For as long as I can recall, I have responded to these, 'circumstances' in this way; It is, simply, my 'nature' to consider and think about my fellow-human(s) and, 'feel' for them...their losses...their 'pain and suffering', etc.. Since I was a child, I have displayed the quality of 'empathy', this, innate, capacity to recognize emotions that are being experienced by another. I have, always, been 'sensitive' to the reality, that, in order to endeavor 'successful' interactions with others, one MUST be able to understand, or, at least, attempt to imagine, on a level, what others experience, emotionally. To be able to 'step outside' of one's-self, and, find it in one's heart to care and 'understand' the 'plight' of others is an important part of 'humanity', the quality and state of being human, in it's most, optimal, display. Personally, I feel, that, a, great LACK of empathy is 'part and parcel' as to what is, so, vitally, wrong in the world, today. It seems, many, people, are so, 'into' themselves as to have limited to no sensitivity toward their brethren, and, in the 'process' become further and further 'removed' from the fact that we ARE all 'connected' as Children of God. Certainly, this, is simply, how I feel about this; yet, I cannot help but imagine a world whereby EVERYONE espoused AND practiced this, same, 'philosophy' with respect to empathy. And...Oh...what a world it would be! Just Sayin'...