Compassion

On Tuesday, in the bustling city of Chicago, I was busy maneuvering the rental van, preparing to head back home. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I witnessed a captivating scene. A feline, driven by its instinctual nature, pounced upon a defenseless squirrel that had leaped off a nearby trashcan. The squirrel’s frantic attempts to flee proved futile, as the cat swiftly ended its life. Witnessing this merciless display of nature, a shudder coursed through my entire being.

In the aftermath of this incident, my mind became consumed with the stark reality of our world—a world often lacking in compassion and riddled with chaos. Genuine acts of kindness seem scarce amidst the tumultuous backdrop. Yet, little did I realize that a glimmer of hope awaited just around the corner.

The following day, I found myself in Atlanta, crawling along 285, drenched by a relentless downpour. The dreary weather mirrored the state of my heart, still burdened by the disillusionment of the previous day’s events. Suddenly, amidst the rain-soaked solitude, a peculiar sight caught my attention. Cowering beneath one side of the road was a small creature—a possum—seeking refuge from nature’s relentless fury. Fearful and vulnerable, it sought shelter from the storm.

In that very moment, a stranger’s vehicle pulled up near the stranded possum. Undeterred by the pouring rain, this compassionate individual emerged from the car and approached the trembling creature with tenderness and empathy. The sight that unfolded before my eyes deeply moved me. With gentle hands, they carefully lifted the possum and placed it inside a secure container within their trunk. Shielding the possum from the rain, they ensured its safety. As their car departed, leaving behind a glimmer of hope amidst the tempest, my heart swelled with warmth, stirred by the kindness that had unfolded before me.

In that instance, the teachings of the Bible on compassion flooded my thoughts. I was reminded of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, who selflessly extended mercy to an injured stranger without hesitation. This powerful story resonated with me, emphasizing that human compassion knows no boundaries and must be extended to all.

Today, my prayer is that, in a world that often appears harsh and unforgiving, we may choose to radiate the light of compassion, following the example set by Jesus and the timeless teachings of the Bible.

~PW 🌮🛶

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“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”” (Luke 10:25–37, ESV)