COMPASSION?

PRACTICE: How compassionate are you? Before you answer you might want to know the definition of the word.

I have always thought of myself as a compassionate individual until I read, “The word compassion comes from two Latin words meaning “to suffer with.” That stopped me! I tried to rescue myself by going to dictionary for the definition… “sympathetic consciousness of others' distress with a desire to alleviate it.” There was some relief, but the Latin meaning kept bubbling up and I think I know why, at least for me.

If I am completely transparent with you, my “compassion” is not always driven from a “suffering with” or “a desire to alleviate the distress of another, place. STOP! Before you judge me – here’s why I make that declaration…and remember I am writing about me. In most instances, I really don’t know the distress of the other. I see them, I made a judgement call (decision) to help or not and I feel good about myself. And most often the help is monetary in nature/sometimes water if it is extremely hot…an easy fix.

When the same person stands on the same corner from early morning to dark each day with a sign that reads “Homeless. Anything helps,” Is my giving them five dollars periodically “suffering with?’ Is giving the person five dollars periodically being conscious of their distress with a desire to alleviate? OR does the five dollars alleviate some of my distress caused from doing too little to help alleviate the root causes of the homeless population in my city.

Furthermore, is it money that the homeless person needs or would “suffering with” be my pulling over to the side of the road, having a conversation to find out the real needs of the individual. In other words, taking a risk to discover before providing a band aid. I understand what is being sought by the individual – assistance. I don’t always understand me in the equation… Am I being compassionate or – self- serving? Just asking.

Phil 2:3

PONDER THIS THOUGHT – Compassion – a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is hurting.