Compassion (noun) a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Is compassion innate or do we learn it? The old nature or nurture dilemma. I believe we learn it. Why, because I have learnt compassion. I was not born with compassion. I was offered it and I accepted it. It is part of my spiritual journey.
Compassion is a value on which I base my life. It is a value attached to my heart, a feeling born of my spirit. Compassion is a value that connects the mind and body with the spirit. Compassion is a value I hold up as an example to others. Compassion is the hand and face of love.
Ignore compassion and you ignore love. Sweep compassion under the carpet and you ignore love. Choosing not to shine the light of compassion towards others you ignore love. Ego, greed, pride, lust is the reality of ignoring love.
I am troubled by current world leaders or those who wish to be leaders displaying a lack of compassion. Is it by ignorance. No! It is by choice. They have chosen themselves above all others and in their selfishness they have pushed compassion away.
What can I do about this? I can live my life based on the twin values of love and compassion. There but by the grace of God go I. I chose neither my place of birth nor my time of birth. What I can choose is how I can live my life as an example of compassion and love. Can you choose this too? Yes you can!
The following is a poem written by Stanley Miller Williams called Compassion.
Compassion
Have compassion for everyone you meet.
even if they don’t want it. What seems conceit,
bad manners, or cynicism is always a sign
of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen.
You do not know what wars are going on
down where the spirit meets the bone.
Here is a video clip of Lucinda Williams singing her father’s poem off the album Down Where the Spirit meets the Bone.
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