When I was a kid, I remember very clearly looking my mom straight in the eyes and asking her, "Do we have to go to church?" I’m sure I had some really great reason right that moment – like a television show I wanted to watch (waaaaaaayyyyy before DVR) or something really important like that. Can you guess her answer? She said, "No." But don’t get concerned; she followed that up with, "No, we don’t have to go to church. We get to go to church."Now, I grew up in church. So, she didn’t have to go into any further explanation about people who want to go to church but their governments won’t let them, or people who want to go to church but are confined because of sickness or other physical limitation, or people who lack the means. I knew about people who didn’t have the same blessings and kind of life that I was privileged to grow up with. I just didn’t always appreciate that perspective. As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes I still don’t appreciate that perspective.
That perspective is sometimes uncomfortable. That perspective sometimes makes me feel a little guilty. That perspective sometimes moves me to go out of my way to be kind. Kindness can be a link to compassion. I do think that kindness – and yes, random acts of kindness – is a forerunner to active compassion.
Here are a few interesting and challenging quotes about compassion:
"It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion" (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart).
"Some people are filled by compassion and a desire to do good, and some simply don’t think anything’s going to make a difference" (Meryl Streep).
"Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men" (Confucius).
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion" (Dalai Lama).
"The value of compassion cannot be over-emphasized. Anyone can criticize. It takes a true believer to be compassionate. No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no one cares or understands" (Arthur H. Stainback).
"I came upon a doctor who appeared in quite poor health. I said, 'There’s nothing that I can do for you that you can’t do for yourself.' He said, 'Oh yes you can. Just hold my hand. I think that would help.' So I sat with him a while then I asked him how he felt. He said, 'I think I’m cured'" (Conor Oberst).
I find active compassion to be difficult sometimes. So I’m starting with kindness. We’ll all get there, I believe. Not because we have to...because we get to.
- Sheree Yasko Hill
