SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 54:10 (TM) – larger reading Isaiah 54:9-17
“My love won't
walk away from you, my covenant commitment of peace won't fall apart." The
God who has compassion on you says so.
STORY:
“It was in those who
had recovered from the plague,” wrote Thucydides, “that the sick and the dying
found most compassion.”
OBSERVATION:
At least in my mind compassion
is more than just sympathy. Oh, the dictionary has it different definition and
that’s okay. For me compassion takes sympathy to a different level. The
thinking here is: I identify with the person… I know what they are going
through because I’ve been there… I’ve traveled where they are traveling… Their
pain has been mine… Compassion.
Most of us lean
towards sympathy not compassion. Unfortunately, most of us in in the helping
professions (clergy, physicians, nurses, social workers, etc.) lack compassion.
Sympathy is there and we think that is enough, but if there is a desire to
bring healing and wholeness compassion should rule the day.
When I hear that God
had compassion it was at a point of identification. He understood. He’s walked
in my shoes. He has faced what I am facing… Compassion. Wrapped up in our own
little worlds makes for a very small person. It results in someone that lacks
compassion. Could God be talking to me?
Back burner is an
easy place to put others. Turning away… ignoring… leaving to others… not my job…
pretty good at doing that. Doesn’t the spirit get tired… weighed down…
burdened… worn out? Am I not just bailing from that which should be a driving
force of my soul? What if God treated me the same way? Where would any of us be
if God stopped showing us compassion?
Okay! Okay! I get
the message God. Compassion – real caring – identifying with the sick, the
dying, the hungry, the naked, the disenfranchised, the border children, should
be the order of the day. God doesn’t walk away nor should I… but God that is
real harder… very demanding… but through our godly compassion others might find
hope to take the next step, next breathe, live another day… through us. Wow!
PRAYER:
You have shown us
compassion, we need your help to continue the journey.
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