Compassion
In my newsletter this week I would like to ask a question- do you consider yourself to be a person who demonstrates compassion to others? Many times, in my life I have experienced opportunities at which I had a choice to be compassionate or heartless. Though there were times in my younger years that I did not always choose wisely, I can say now, I veer on the side of compassion all day! Do you know why? Because as I grew in my relationship with Christ, I was able to recognize that this behavior was a biblical model that He, himself demonstrated. As you probably already know, we are to emulate His character as believers and therefore, this means to act upon a need if possible. As we grow in the knowledge of Jesus, our faith in Him must increase too. How we embrace people and meet them where they are, speaks volumes to those who have not met Him yet. Let’s look at the definition of compassion from Compassion.com- “Compassion and empathy are often used interchangeably or confused with one another. However, there’s a clear difference. Empathy is the ability to relate to another person's pain as if it were your own. Empathy, like sympathy, is grounded in emotion and feeling, but empathy doesn't have an active component to it like compassion does. The connection of suffering with another person brings compassion beyond sympathy into the realm of empathy. However, compassion is so much more than empathy. Compassion sees another person’s pain — and acts.” There is a story in the book of Matthew in the Bible the story displays this very thing. The act begins when Jesus shows compassion to an outcast - a leper. Google states: The word leper was historically used to refer to someone who suffers from leprosy, a bacterial illness that affects the nerves, skin, and respiratory tract. Because leprosy was thought to be highly contagious, the word leper also came to be used more generally to mean "an outcast" or "a person to be avoided." Knowing the definition of this illness, would you have jumped in and tried to intercede for this person or discount that person? It reminds me of how people were when Covid first came out in 2020. Most avoided others for a fear that they would be infected. Therefore, a ton of isolation was required. Now, the precautions of the virus have decreased because we have more knowledge of it and now, we are more willing to help others when they have it. With this said, as the leper heard about Jesus being in his area, he was desperate. He made his way to the bottom of the mountain and fell at the feet of Jesus. I love this moment when he sticks out his hand and by faith because he believed he would be healed. As always, Jesus felt compassion for him and reached down to touch him and you guessed it, he was healed. How many of us have been like the leper and found ourselves in a desperate spot? Was it your desire for someone to comfort you? Did they show compassion? I don’t know about you, but for me, I am grateful for those who rallied around me when I was broken. Will you be like Jesus and reach down to pull someone up from brokenness and help or will you be like the world in the story and reject that person? The choice is yours!
Chaplain Tracey Burns
Reflection Questions:
When you see someone in need or who is going through crisis do you embrace them or ignore them?
Who comes to mind that you need to step out of your comfort zone and help?
How will you execute a paln and show compassion?
Bonus: Great song (if you are interested), when you display compassion to others and think there is no answer, remember He is “Mighty to Save”