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Do
You Know What Hurts Me
There is a story of a Hassidic rabbi, renowned for his
piety. He was unexpectedly confronted one day by one of
his devoted youthful disciples. In a burst of feeling,
the young disciple exclaimed, “My master, I love you!”
The ancient teacher looked up from his books and asked
his fervent disciple, “Do you know what hurts me, my son?”
The young man was puzzled. Composing himself, he stuttered,
“I don’t understand your question, Rabbi. I am trying
to tell you how much you mean to me, and you confuse me
with irrelevant questions.”
“My question is neither confusing nor irrelevant,” rejoined
the rabbi. “For if you don’t know what hurts me, how can
you truly love me?”
It rings true for us as well, doesn’t it? How can you
ever claim that you love somebody When you do not even
know what hurts that person? And how can we know what
hurts that person unless you ask?
That’s why our so called “intimate fellowship” could be
in reality a superficial acquaintance. We could know someone
for years and yet have faintest idea what hurts him. It
could be our fault for we never cared enough to inquire,
or it could be the other person’s fault that he never
revealed.
But God is different. He often shared with us what hurts
Him when you read the bible. He tells us what causes Him
to grieve, and what causes Him to rejoice. Also, because
He wanted to let us know (not that He didn’t know before)
He came as a human being (it’s called incarnation) just
like you and me and lived on the earth for 33 years.
I know that it’s not easy to be honest to really share
with those around you. Some of you might have suffered
emotional casualty in the past for having tried. Some
of you might have been disappointed in its result. Worse
yet, you might have been “burned” from the experience.
No matter what it was, however, it should not prohibit
you from being real and honest. If you don’t tell me what
hurts you, how would I know?
So, next time you have an opportunity to share with someone,
take a leap of faith and be honest. It might just surprise
you.
January 21, 2007
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