WATCHWORD:
“And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”. Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:29b-37
Meditation:
Anger? Hope?
I was thinking about fear, empathy and compassion, and trying to sort out the differences and the characteristics of those common states of mind. I suppose I could’ve thrown in anger as well, because in my mind each one of us has gone through a period of anger, that we may not have identified as such. But, I would argue that it is hard to go from a busy life to isolation and not have that abrupt change produce frustration and anger.
Anger, in my mind, is tied to hope in kind of a weird way. In our present circumstance, we have anger because we want a better narrative. We don’t like the one we have. What actually matters? Human connection, touch, dinner together, hair appointments, hugs, kisses, protest marches, work, and down a long, long list of ‘normal’ activities, now out of reach, and our sense of hope is paused for a time.
I was listening to a podcast interview of Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love and Big Magic, and she was drawing the line between empathy and compassion, and making some interesting points. I wished I had taken notes. Let me see if I can draw similar lines.
I once wrote an essay describing what I had learned from Bob when he was campus pastor at Manchester College. We were at a funeral home, in line, and about to speak to our student, the mother who had witnessed the death of her seven-year-old son. Under those circumstances sympathy says ‘I’m sorry for your loss’, while empathy says ‘what a blessing to have had your son in your life for those seven years’. Compassion says ‘When you’re ready, please come and see me, let’s talk’. Bob did all that perfectly, and I learned.
For us, world-wide, we are sharing a common condition, brought on by this isolation and the shared fear of the virus. We can empathize with others. ‘I see you are suffering like me’. Too often, empathy can alter that next step, compassion. Compassion is often born out of empathy because we can relate to the suffering of the other, we take next step in love, ‘how can I help, what can I do?’
On the subject of compassion, Gilbert says that “this is not a time to hoard. It’s time to store our grain in the belly of the hungry neighbor.” I find that beautiful imagery of generosity born out of compassion.
So, what is my point? Honestly, I’m not sure. Maybe we will all find out when this is over. I am convinced, however, that a good part of the answer lies within each one of us, for, at its core, this isolation is personal. It is how we each will benefit from it.
What I do believe is this: Love is the source of all compassion, it is the opposite of fear. To me, there is a positive counter-transition that goes like this — Fear can breed anger. Anger, recognized, can encourage sympathy. Awareness of our sympathetic response can engender empathy. Empathy opens the door to compassion, and compassion is love.
Lucy, in the Peanuts cartoon, comments, ‘Good, grief!’ and you may wonder what is good about grief. Well, stick that word grief into the sentence above; Grief can, and does, breed anger, etc.
Because of another writing project I’m working on, I couldn’t help but think of the Good Samaritan. While others paused, on their travels on this very dangerous Jericho Road, they looked (with sympathy, even empathy?) at the victim of the robbery lying there, then passed on helping. The Samaritan, overcame his fear of the road and its dangers, to follow compassionate (love) action.
May the power of God’s love within us, move us to acts of compassion, sometimes beyond our human willingness to act. Example: The medical nurse who works through exhaustion and risk of contracting the virus, and shows up one 12-hour shift after another.
–Stan
Laughter is good medicine:
Two from Dave, through Lee –
#1. My husband and I have decided not to have children…We’ll tell them tonight at dinner!
#2. I’ve spent three weeks hanging out with myself…I am so sorry to every person I have ever spent time with!
From Mac –
A Poem: The Garden of our Memories
We sat on the porch swing, you and me, taking our evening ease.
The sun had just begun to set in the west, and I said, this is the time of day when the breeze is at its best.
You pointed to the far corner of our garden of memories and said do you remember the time you proposed to me?
You slipped your age-old hand into mine. Like it was yesterday. I was never so nervous until you said yes.
Your diamond ring still sparkles with the light that guides our love to this very night.
The first few years, weeds of misunderstanding, selfishness, and mistrust, grew and tried to choke our love.
Together we uprooted these evil weeds and planted the seeds of trust, hard work, faith in God, and in the children. Each of us will remember good, and bad times, in our garden of memories.
The garden of our memories belongs to just you and me; for no other people have lived our lives.
Look the sun has almost settled in the west over our life full of memories.
Then as I squeezed your hand, I said this prayer. Dear Lord God, Although our bodies age day by day, our spirits will always remember the love we shared together. We give you thanks God for always being present in….The Garden of our Memories
–Mac McKinley 2010
Gentle Reminder: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:16-18
Closing Prayer:
Lord, we don’t know what lays before us today, but we commit it all to you. Please give us strength and courage to get through the joys, challenges and happenings of the day. We thank you for our lives and all that they hold; we commit this day to you. No matter what happens, we know you have us in the palm of your hand. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
