Edited by Jim McCrory, Saturday, 23 Nov 2024, 13:09
Dear
Sociopath,
I
don’t write with anger or judgment, I don't even like using the word
"sociopath" — it seems so confrontational and judgemental. How about, A Letter To Those Who Walk Without Empathy? That sounds better.
I
pen this letter with a heartfelt plea for reflection and hope. You may not
think of yourself as someone who hurts others. Maybe you justify your actions,
rationalizing that people deserve what happens to them or that life is simply a
game to be played and won. But deep down, there’s a truth you can’t outrun: the
choices we make, especially the way we treat others, shape the person we
become.
You
may have mastered the art of charm, weaving a web of deception so seamlessly
that it feels second nature. Perhaps you’ve lied to gain someone’s trust, taken
shortcuts without a second thought, or avoided responsibility by blaming
others. You might act impulsively, driven by whims, or find it hard to control
the anger that flares when life doesn’t go your way. And when relationships
falter, maybe you’ve told yourself it’s their fault, not yours. Ultimately, you
will never find happiness in this way. Perhaps, loneliness.
But
here’s the thing: you don’t have to stay on this path. The capacity to choose
differently, to rewrite the narrative of your life, is always within reach.
Psalm
15 offers a vision of what it means to live a life of integrity and depth—a
life where others find safety, trust, and love in your presence. It says:
"Lord,
who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who
may live on your holy mountain?
The
one whose walk is blameless,
who
does what is righteous,
who
speaks the truth from their heart;
whose
tongue utters no slander,
who
does no wrong to a neighbor,
and
casts no slur on others;
who
despises a vile person
but
honors those who fear the Lord;
who
keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and
does not change their mind;
who
lends money to the poor without interest;
who
does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever
does these things
will
never be shaken.
(NIV)
This
passage isn’t just a lofty ideal; it’s an invitation. Imagine being someone
others can trust completely, who speaks the truth even when it’s hard, who
lifts others up instead of tearing them down. Imagine being someone who keeps
their promises, lives with honesty, and treats others with kindness—not because
it’s easy, but because it’s right.
What
would it take for you to start walking this path?
Yes,
it requires courage. It means acknowledging the harm you’ve caused, taking
responsibility, and making amends where you can. It means letting go of excuses
and facing the uncomfortable truth about yourself. But it also means
freedom—freedom from the lies, the manipulation, and the emptiness that often
accompany a life of deceit.
You
were created for more than this. You were designed to connect deeply, to love
sincerely, and to bring good into the world. It’s not too late to change.
Seeking help is not a weakness but a sign of strength. Reaching out for
guidance, admitting your struggles, and striving for a life of integrity can
transform not just your relationships, but your entire sense of purpose. The
very fact that you are reading this may be that God is prompting you to attain
something better.
If
this message feels like a confrontation, I hope you’ll see it instead as an act
of care. Change isn’t easy, but the rewards are profound: peace of mind,
genuine relationships, and a life that reflects the beauty of Psalm 15.
The
path to becoming a person of integrity is open to you. The question is, will
you take it?
Dear Sociopath
Dear Sociopath,
I don’t write with anger or judgment, I don't even like using the word "sociopath" — it seems so confrontational and judgemental. How about, A Letter To Those Who Walk Without Empathy? That sounds better.
I pen this letter with a heartfelt plea for reflection and hope. You may not think of yourself as someone who hurts others. Maybe you justify your actions, rationalizing that people deserve what happens to them or that life is simply a game to be played and won. But deep down, there’s a truth you can’t outrun: the choices we make, especially the way we treat others, shape the person we become.
You may have mastered the art of charm, weaving a web of deception so seamlessly that it feels second nature. Perhaps you’ve lied to gain someone’s trust, taken shortcuts without a second thought, or avoided responsibility by blaming others. You might act impulsively, driven by whims, or find it hard to control the anger that flares when life doesn’t go your way. And when relationships falter, maybe you’ve told yourself it’s their fault, not yours. Ultimately, you will never find happiness in this way. Perhaps, loneliness.
But here’s the thing: you don’t have to stay on this path. The capacity to choose differently, to rewrite the narrative of your life, is always within reach.
Psalm 15 offers a vision of what it means to live a life of integrity and depth—a life where others find safety, trust, and love in your presence. It says:
"Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
(NIV)
This passage isn’t just a lofty ideal; it’s an invitation. Imagine being someone others can trust completely, who speaks the truth even when it’s hard, who lifts others up instead of tearing them down. Imagine being someone who keeps their promises, lives with honesty, and treats others with kindness—not because it’s easy, but because it’s right.
What would it take for you to start walking this path?
Yes, it requires courage. It means acknowledging the harm you’ve caused, taking responsibility, and making amends where you can. It means letting go of excuses and facing the uncomfortable truth about yourself. But it also means freedom—freedom from the lies, the manipulation, and the emptiness that often accompany a life of deceit.
You were created for more than this. You were designed to connect deeply, to love sincerely, and to bring good into the world. It’s not too late to change. Seeking help is not a weakness but a sign of strength. Reaching out for guidance, admitting your struggles, and striving for a life of integrity can transform not just your relationships, but your entire sense of purpose. The very fact that you are reading this may be that God is prompting you to attain something better.
If this message feels like a confrontation, I hope you’ll see it instead as an act of care. Change isn’t easy, but the rewards are profound: peace of mind, genuine relationships, and a life that reflects the beauty of Psalm 15.
The path to becoming a person of integrity is open to you. The question is, will you take it?
With hope for your future,
A Fellow Human.
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Bible verses from the NIV,
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