A few Sundays back, the Sunday Question was about the distinction of compassion.  I've been dabbling a bit in meditation recently and started where the Dalai Lama suggests one starts meditation...by concentrating on compassion.  Last night, during my meditation, a thought came to me about compassion.  I recorded it on the flyleaf of a book and recaptured it in my journal this morning.

Compassion is a meeting of the self in the other (and of the other in the self).  The meeting is without envy or pity and each participant leaves the encounter enriched by witnessing (and being witness to) a shared humanity.

I think I'm onto something here...and while it sounds very Eastern in thought, I believe it's exactly the way Christ encountered individuals (at least as it's recorded in the Bible).  He was present.  He got it.  He spoke the truth of the situation, regardless of the other person's "ears to hear."

Just some food for thought on a Friday afternoon.

By the way, the flower above is a bromeliad in bloom.  It was given to me by my friend, Katy, a month or so ago.  Isn't it gorgeous?

Leave a Reply