On April 23 and 24, 2021, the women of the Hanse Conference again gathered for another weekend retreat. Unfortunately again only online, but even so it was wonderful to have this opportunity. About 20 women met this way. It was a happy "hello" and great reunion. Dörthe Meisel took us on a journey of "empathy." We learned the difference between empathy and compassion. We were in the mountain country with the wounded man and the good Samaritan. We experienced that compassion can be learned and that God enables us to practice it. But we also learned that we, like Mary, have to sit at Jesus' feet to be filled. We can do that without feeling guilty. We are allowed to set limits in our lives. We were able to share about this in small groups and in the larger group. Of course, we also chatted together, laughed, did gymnastics, prayed and sang.
Thanks be to God that we can meet again and again and enjoy community (even if in a differentway), and learn from each other and be filled.
Reported by Ulrike Röske
Hanse Conference Women’s Retreat
The Difference between Empathy and Compassion