I recently viewed an interesting Ted Talk about malaria (found here), and I was struck by the simple yet simultaneously complicated solution to the deadly disease that claims over a million lives a year, most of those being children under the age of five! The speaker, Sonia Shah, equated the cultural norm of malarias environments to that of cold and flu season in western civilizations. It was a parallel interestingly deconstructed.
I began to think of all the causes, organizations, and relief efforts that exist to eradicate the world of horrendous illnesses and evils. When you are personally affected by an illness, evil, or unexpected hardship it is easier to focus your energy on ridding the world its existence. Those who have spearheaded humanitarian efforts, started non-profits, or created worldwide awareness and scientific research typically have some personal involvement in their purposes. However, they can also become erroneously angry when others don't share their passion.
It is critical that we don't judge others who don't share our passion, so long as as we don't lack compassion in our own lives. We may not be able to be a part of every philanthropic opportunity, but without experiencing and engaging in different cultures, we begin to keep a safe arms distance away from tragedy, which steals compassion from our very core. Without compassion, we are left with prideful narcissism. When we play life "safe" behind a screen and only give when it can't truly hurt us, we are missing out on seeing the bigger picture.
We won't always have this life to relive. Therefore, we should give people a picture of love that transcends to eternity through our compassion. Only then can we begin to solve some of the worst problems on earth.
"But they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them." (Hosea 11:3-4)
It is love. Love for the season you are enduring or enjoying. Love for love's sake. Love heals. Love helps. Love conquers all.
We love you!
~Compassion Buster
I began to think of all the causes, organizations, and relief efforts that exist to eradicate the world of horrendous illnesses and evils. When you are personally affected by an illness, evil, or unexpected hardship it is easier to focus your energy on ridding the world its existence. Those who have spearheaded humanitarian efforts, started non-profits, or created worldwide awareness and scientific research typically have some personal involvement in their purposes. However, they can also become erroneously angry when others don't share their passion.
It is critical that we don't judge others who don't share our passion, so long as as we don't lack compassion in our own lives. We may not be able to be a part of every philanthropic opportunity, but without experiencing and engaging in different cultures, we begin to keep a safe arms distance away from tragedy, which steals compassion from our very core. Without compassion, we are left with prideful narcissism. When we play life "safe" behind a screen and only give when it can't truly hurt us, we are missing out on seeing the bigger picture.
We won't always have this life to relive. Therefore, we should give people a picture of love that transcends to eternity through our compassion. Only then can we begin to solve some of the worst problems on earth.
"But they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them." (Hosea 11:3-4)
We love you!
~Compassion Buster
Comments
Post a Comment