I got a bit political in a status update on Facebook the other day. A comment about taxes caused a ruckus with my more conservative friends back home in the South. Comments started flying about the role of government and how much we should be expected to give to our communities versus what we deserve to keep for ourselves. Looking back at the conversation I wonder: What has happened to basic human compassion?
I think we would do things very differently in this country if we could all tap into real, nonjudgmental compassion for others. To me, compassion means admitting to ourselves that other people’s experiences are not the same as ours, and that they still matter. This is actually quite difficult, and I struggle with it myself.
What if we all worked a bit harder to understand how big social problems like poverty, racism or domestic violence impact people’s lives? What would it be like if we took a walk in their shoes? For those of us who’ve faced some of these hard situations, we’re still not off the hook. Our task is to realize that our way of dealing isn’t the only way.
There is actually research that suggests that compassion causes a chemical reaction in our bodies which makes our desire to be compassionate grow stronger. All we need to do is exercise it! Imagine if everyone in your community was just a little more compassionate. Albert Einstein had it right when he said:
“A human being…experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest…. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures.”
I’m busting out of that prison. Will you come with me?
Can You Relate? 
My wise and wonderful friend Charles wrote this to me about your post, Traci:
“The article says, ‘To me, compassion means admitting to ourselves that other people’s experiences are not the same as ours, and that they still matter.” My American Heritage dictionary says, “Compassion always favorably connotes broad or profound feeling for the misfortunes of others and **a desire to aid them**.’ (emphasis added) The writer doesn’t go that far. She may be thinking about ’empathy . . . [which] is a conscious involvement with a person’s situation in the sense of vicarious identification.’
You’re right that we need more compassion, particularly the dictionary definition.”
Compassion is the light of Christ. The more we let His light guide and influence our lives, the more we will see each individaul for what they are- (no matter what their circamstance) Sons and daughters of our Father in Heaven.
Lori