The strength of compassion

By Judy Joseph McSween
Time Out Specialist – Emotional Intelligence, Conversational Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence Coach.

As usual, I encourage you to begin by pausing and becoming fully present to this moment. BREATHE.
In our journey towards increased self-awareness and self-management as a pathway to deepen our spiritual growth, we encountered the role of stillness (‘Pause’) and silence in facilitating more attentive listening to the voice of self (ego and higher self), others, and the Holy Spirit (source of guidance).
As we develop a deeper intimacy with the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:15-31), we begin to manifest the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Each of these fruits allows us to bring a greater level of self-management of our thoughts, emotions, words and actions to our interpersonal relationships. Each of these allows us to provide an enhanced quality of listening to the other person.
As we listen, we can internalise and contemplate what we are hearing and based on our improved understanding of the other, choose to act in a way that brings glory and honour to God.
Richard Rohr, in his reflections on contemplation and action, notes the importance of both our Mary and Martha personae, “She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made” (Lk 10:38-42).
As we become a more synodal church, we are called to listen and take compassionate action, just as we ourselves cry out: “Lord have mercy and compassion, look with pity upon me.”

What is compassion?

Cindy Wigglesworth describes compassion as beyond empathy: ‘I feel what you feel and it doesn’t overwhelm my circuits. My wisdom circuits remain active, and I modulate my emotional state. I see a larger picture. I act skilfully to relieve suffering where I can, or to sit with people who just need accompaniment in their pain (or their joy)’.
In scripture, we have numerous examples of Jesus demonstrating compassion:
• Healing of the marginalised – Luke 8:2 (Mary Magdalene); Mark 5:16 (Legion); John 11:38 (Lazarus);
• Feeding the crowds – Matthew 9:36: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”; Matthew 15:32: “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat’.”
Demonstrating compassion in our relationships with our family, friends, fellow parishioners, ministry members and the marginalised requires that we pause, listen, dialogue, exchange perspectives, suspend judgement and desire to serve the other.
The strength of compassion lies in its power to connect us with the other through what is difficult.
Wigglesworth notes that empathy precedes compassion. Empathy is about “sensing others’ feelings and perspectives and taking an active interest in their concerns.” Empathy acts like a brake to treating others as though they are less valued.
• Do you find yourself challenged to understand those with perspectives that differ from yours?
• Do you find yourself drawn to judging others based on denomination, ethnicity, social background, education, gender orientation?
• Do you sometimes think—‘I don’t have the emotional bandwidth to suffer along with anyone else right now.
It just hurts too much’?
• Are there opportunities that present themselves in your daily life for you to demonstrate empathy and compassion and you don’t?

In a world that has become increasingly self-centred, we need to be intentional, mindful and proactive to situations in which we can demonstrate empathy and compassion.
We need to be aware of our emotions around the issue, since to effectively accompany the other, inner peace, patience and self-control (all fruits of the Holy Spirit) are necessary.

Reflection

In the upcoming period, consider
1. Were there opportunities for me to demonstrate empathy/compassion today?
2. What allowed me to demonstrate empathy/compassion?
3. What impeded me from demonstrating empathy/compassion?
4. What scripture verse might I invoke to remind me to demonstrate compassion to others?

Contact Joseph Mc Sween to schedule a personal or a group Time Out session judy@timeoutspecialist.com or call (1-868) 684-9827
Visit www.timeoutspecialist.com