Compassion — It’s Not Just an Emotion

One of the books I’ve been using for my daily devotional reading is One at a time by Kyle Idleman. The chapter I read today was about compassion. Most of the time we think of compassion as a feeling. We hear about or even see an unfortunate situation and we “feel” sorry for that person. Then we move on.

If we examine the Bible, we find that Jesus often “felt compassion” for someone. However, the compassion of Jesus didn’t stop there. He did something. He raised the widow’s son (Luke 7:13-15), fed the crowd (Mark 6:34), restored sight to the blind man (Matt. 20:34). As the author puts it:

“When Jesus felt compassion, it was followed by an action, and it always created a story.”

There are any number of reasons that we fail to act on our feelings of compassion. For example, we may think:

1. This problem is too big–there’s nothing I can do
2. Many people see the problem — somebody else will do something

Unfortunately, the real reasons are simple — we just don’t care enough, or we don’t want to be inconvenienced.

Compassion calls us to become more like Jesus. It’s not just a sad feeling, it’s a reminder that we need to do something. Even if that something is small, it may make a big difference to that one person who is affected.

 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Luke 25:34-36

For more about Christian action see:

The Laity — Christians in Action

A Call to Christian Character-Toward a Recovery of Biblical Piety–Book Review

How Should A Reborn Christian Act?

Women are trash

I have your attention haven’t I. Now, before I get 12 million indignent comments . . . I, in fact, do not think women are trash. And I know no one else does either. Including, (maybe even especially) people who are not christian. So how then, did our society come to the point where it’s okay to say that men are trash? Why is okay to say that about men and not okay to say it about women? The answer should be obvious. It’s not okay at all.

Yet we have examples such as when Kavanaugh was being confirmed and T shirts sporting this phrase were worn with pride. And we were told in essence that equality meant no matter the circumstance women are to be believed over men. Really? What’s equal about that? Anyone with children (boy and a girl) knows that sisters are just as likely as brothers to fib on occasion.  It is the nature of Humans (Man-Kind) to have selfish tendencies. People everywhere throughout history are capable of great love and great hate. We are equally foul-able.

Yes, women should have the right to vote, and work, and have the same opportunity as men do. But if we as women get there by tearing men down; then we’ve achieved nothing more than turning back time and showing the world how hateful we can be.  Today’s women have hated everything about men, we’ve even come up with the term ‘mansplaining’. Let me reverse that as well. What if there were a term ‘womansplaining’? Wouldn’t we find it offensive and immediately accuse men of sexism and trying to hold women back? Again if it’s not okay for them to say, why is it okay for us? It’s not.

Even as recently as last week there was a story in the news about how masculinity is now seen as toxic. The American Psychological Association (APA) has informed us as a Nation that traditional masculinity is toxic. So now, to be in essence what defines men is harmful?? Really? Now simply to be born male you are wrong, harmful, toxic. How sad for our sons, for our brothers, and our fathers. How sad for the men serving and who have served in our military. What a slap in the face that is to our policemen, firemen, doctors, lawyers, mechanics, linemen, truckers . . . and more.

Let me reverse this now too. To be feminine is toxic. To be female is harmful and dangerous to society. Those statements are (of course) false and not okay. Therefore, it is not, and should not, be okay to say the same of men. To be born female means we have different hormones, varying anatomy and even, it seems, different thought processes and ways of handling emotions. To be feminine means the traditional nurturing and also the modern loving and strong. In the same way, to be masculine is to want to provide for loved ones, to protect and encourage.

I am not a “girly girl”. For me feeling pretty is when I have an awesome T-shirt and great looking jeans. Today men can enjoy a Mani-pedi and not be judged for it. We can be modern women and allow our men to be modern men without tearing them down. Isn’t equality expecting the same out of each other? Shouldn’t we equally encourage, support and love each other?

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Ladies God put us (all) here to cooperate with each other. Today we call it team work. And when we do things right, it’s a beautiful thing.

Proverbs 3:14-16 . . . for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.…

Here’s a call to be an honorable kind of woman that upholds goodness and shows grace. The kind of woman that loves without measure and keeps wisdom by her side. The kind of woman that teaches strength and holds firm in her virtues. The kind of woman that treats men as she would like to be treated.

 

The Helpfulness Habit

• A study conducted by York University last year asked people to behave helpfully to another person for a few minutes a day.  After six months, participants reported a higher sense of self esteem and happiness.
• In general, people who make a habit of helping others report better health and seniors who do volunteer work live longer.

Just a coincidence, you say?  Maybe those who are likely to help others are in better health to begin with?  Well, that’s possible.  I choose to think that God made us to serve others, and when we do that we become closer to Him and to His original perfect plan for humankind.

About seven months ago, I started attending a “Prevent Diabetes” class.  I don’t really like to exercise, but one of the goals was to do some sort of moderate physical activity for 150 minutes a week.  I started with doing exercise segments or walking for about 10-15 minutes at a time.  Over time, I’ve increased my minutes and I now exercise for about an hour each day.  I lost weight and I feel better.  Exercise has become a habit. Now I want to do it. It’s become part of my daily routine.

So why not start a helpfulness habit?  Like me and my exercise plan, you can start small.  Resolve to thank every person who serves you in some way — the waitress, the store clerk, your husband.  Send some cheerful notes, cards, or emails.  Help a neighbor carry in the groceries.  Take some soup to a shut-in.  Pretty soon, you’ll find you feel better and serving others has become a normal part of daily life;  and guess what, your spiritual life will improve as well.

Be the person God created you to be.  Serve others.

My Own Little World

I know that I’m guilty of living in my own world.  Something is going on in my life and I pull all the sensors in, so to speak.  I don’t look out into the world and see the pain and suffering that is out there.  If I don’t see it, I can’t do anything about it.  Not even pray.  I’m centered on MY pain and suffering.

When this song came out in 2010 I was starting to look out of my own little world.  Starting to pray for others and ask how they were doing.  Asking about that medical problem that’s worrying the family.  Their problems that I knew about.  I would start a prayer list and I would pray for them.  It’s too easy to say that you’ll keep them in prayer and then forget.

One thing that needs remedied in my own little world is shown in this video.  I don’t DO something.  Sometimes the only thing that you can do is pray but many times you can actually do something.

Listen to this song by Matthew West.  It reminds us that there is a larger world out there.

Blessed to be a Blessing

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times you may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

II Corinthians 9:8-12 (ESV

Beth Ann blogged about the Aaronic blessing which we often hear at the end of the worship service, and I posted the hymn, “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing” which is a common recessional.  It occurs to me that God blesses us during our weekly worship, not only because He loves us, but because He wants us to go out and extend that blessing to others.  One church I visited had a sign as you exited the parking lot that read, “You are now entering the mission field.”  How often do we think about this?  Most of the time, church is over, and we simply slip back into our usual routines, without giving a thought to what God wants us to do next.  We’re happy to have been inspired, uplifted and blessed, but we don’t make time to “pay it forward.”

There are probably a million ways to do this.  We can just practice the fruits of the spirit by loving, being patient, kind and gentle in our interactions with others.  We can be generous to those in need.  We can invite somebody to church or Bible study.  We can say “thanks” or “have a blessed day.”  We can go down to the local mission and serve a meal.  We can help an elderly neighbor or a young mother.  We can give someone a hug.

The point is, God’s blessing isn’t just for you and me.  We’re to receive it, and then give it away.  There are many people out there who desperately need God.  How can we pass the blessing on?  I’d like to hear suggestions from other authors and readers.

 

God Is In the Manger

This quote is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Book, “God Is In the Manger.” I’m planning to request it from our local library, so you may see a review later this month!

“Jesus stands at the door knocking (Rev. 3:20). In total reality, he comes in the form of the beggar, of the dissolute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person that you meet. As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbor, as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you, makes demands on you. That is the great seriousness and great blessedness of the Advent message. Christ is standing at the door; he lives in the form of a human being among us.”  

Dorothy Day on Giving

Go Ahead, Make My Day

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, …” Colossians 3:12

Well, the yesterday didn’t start out very well…I overslept (yes, even retired people can do this).  My husband and I had to jump up and rush around so that he could get to his breakfast meeting with another Pastor, and I would be ready to drive our granddaughter to school.  I didn’t have time for breakfast and when Katelyn arrived, she was being a typical Monday morning teenager;  rolling her eyes, shrugging instead of answering my questions, looking generally  bored and unhappy.  When we started out the door, I wasn’t in a good mood.

Then something happened.  We got to her school and pulled up to the drop off area.  It was a gusty day and one of the male teachers on duty came right up to the passenger door.  He opened it saying, “It’s windy, so I want to make sure your door doesn’t get away from you and is closed tightly” and then “Hello Katelyn, have you got everything?”  He gave me a little wave.  I hadn’t said a word, but his kind and helpful manner changed the way I was feeling.  Instead of feeling irritable and grouchy because of my growling stomach, I felt happy and thankful to be noticed and treated helpfully and personally.  It turned my day and my attitude around.

So my question is, why don’t we all do this more often?  Why don’t we take the time to see the people around us as people and realize that our behavior may make or break their day?  It doesn’t really take much  effort to be courteous;  to say thank you;  to be patient when someone is struggling or new on the job; to address someone by their name if we know it or see it on a nametag; to offer help or hold a door or just say “have a blessed day.”

Did someone make your day today?  Thank them and thank God.

Let Thanksgiving Lead to Action

O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency;
bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen.

-Samuel F. Pugh

This prayer is a good reminder that giving thanks should not just be a passive exercise.  It should spur us on to love and encourage others so that they will come to know and understand the grace of God.