|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 8
Compassion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
com·pas·sion - a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering
Random House Dictionary
Someone in Mexico spoke about a spiritual group they belonged to. It was helpful for them until they noticed that, whenever someone would come to the group with a problem, the group would join that member in their suffering. As if this were the proper approach. It stopped being helpful for her to attend, so she stopped.
To suffer along with someone as an antidote to their suffering is like finding someone in a ditch, then jumping down in the ditch with them. They may be a bit less lonely for a moment, but what they really need is for us to stay on the ditch bank and reach down a hand for them to grasp.
"Hey! I'm stuck in a ditch!"
"Yes, I see that. Take my hand."
"It's deep!"
"Yes, it is. Take my hand."
"Don't you feel bad for me?"
"I think it sucks to be in a ditch. I see that you feel bad. Take my hand."
Today I will be an example of how not to suffer. I will remember that it is my joy that is the hand I reach out to those I wish to help.
Wheel barrow, Mexico City
Copyright © 2011 Jeff Kober |
