Helping with a Compassionate Heart

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. 

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, 

if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

Once a year at the church where I work, we partner with CARITAS (Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter) to house the homeless for one week.  The church provides a place to sleep and two meals a day, plus laundry service, tutoring for the children, and any other way that we might be helpful to the families enrolled in the program.

Grace Notes tells the story of a woman who, with her husband, had accepted the assignment of sleeping overnight at the church in case one of the families had a need during the night.  About 3:00am in the morning, there was a knock at their door.  The husband went out for a while, then finally returned to his bed.  What was the problem?  One of their guests needed to start her laundry and wanted the door to the laundry room unlocked.  His wife was incensed.  Laundry at 3:00 a.m. in the morning?  How rude!  She didn't mince any words in telling her husband what she thought of the woman and her unkindness.  Such things as laundry certainly could have been done the next day.

In the morning, when the husband had a chance to chat with the woman from the night before, he discovered that one of her five little boys had wet the bed in the night.  She gave the child her own bed, and then, thoroughly embarrassed because they were using a bed and linens provided by the program, all she could think about was washing the sheets and blanket.  When the husband passed this tidbit of information on to his wife, she realized that she had reacted totally without compassion.  She had volunteered to sleep for one night on an air mattress at the church so that she would be available if any needs arose.  When one did, she reacted with anger and complaining.  She had passed judgment without knowing all the relevant facts.  She had, in fact, been more concerned about her need for sleep than about any of the people she had volunteered to shepherd.

In our neighborhoods and communities where there is so much heartache and need, it is important not only to raise your hand and say, "I can help," but to do so with a heart of compassion, humility, patience and love.

Trying to Share Wisdom

My son, pay attention to my wisdom,

listen well to my words of insight.

Proverbs 5:1

My new freshman class at the Specialty Center for the Arts where I teach is a lively group of  eleven teens.  Every school year, I have at least one student in my 9th grade class who comes in feeling like they own the world:  they have already conquered the intricacies of singing, they are "seasoned" performers, they are going to go on and star on Broadway, and our little class is just a side station that they have to get through as they are up and on to better things.  They don't know me from Adam, and their attitude appears to be that I probably know about as much about singing as he did.  I have a hard time to keep from grinning when I realize that I have another live wire!

This year is no exception.  One student stood out as someone who considers themselves light years ahead of their fellow classmates.  I handed out this individual's song for the first nine weeks - an English art song that was only two pages in length, had two verses, and was quite repetitive in words as well as music.  A piece of cake, right?  Well, it should have been.  But this individual came to class each week with very little preparation of the song.  Our first nine weeks period is actually closer to seven weeks long, so the dress rehearsal came up quickly.  This student came up on stage, did their spoken introduction, launched into the song, and promptly forgot their words.  I had begged, pleaded and cajoled for weeks to try and motivate this kid.  Now I made a unilateral decision as the teacher - they would have to sing the recital using their music.  Much wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued.  No way were they going to do that.  "Yes way," I said.

Recital day arrived, and then this student's time to perform.  They came onstage with the music, put it on a stand about a foot away from where they stood, and gave their spoken introduction.  I started the piano accompaniment and waited for the meltdown I knew would follow.  The student positively trashed the piece - couldn't remember the words, couldn't remember the music, couldn't remember anything.  It was a very painful public collapse, and one that was completely unnecessary.

Throughout the book of Proverbs, King Solomon pleads with his listeners to give heed to his words and advice regarding the wisdom and understanding that comes from God.  Solomon knew from hard-knock experience that man's wisdom isn't worth a hill of beans when it comes to the pressures and insanity of life.  The book of Proverbs calls out to us as well.  Do we already know it all?  Or are we willing to humble ourselves and listen?  

CNN Heroes of 2012

Love your neighbor as you love yourself...

Mark 12:31

Today, CNN revealed their Top 10 Heroes of 2012 - ordinary people doing extraordinary acts of kindness, compassion and leadership around the world nominated by CNN's global audience.  Here are just a few:

Pushpa Basnet - a woman in Nepal who was shocked to learn that there were children living in adult prisons with their parents because they had no where else to go.  In 2005, she opened a children's center providing housing, education and medical care for more than 140 children of incarcerated parents.

Connie Siskowski helps young people who, for whatever reason, are the primary caregivers for an ill, disabled or aging family member.  Her non-profit has provided assistance for over 550 young caregivers in Florida.

Scott Strode founded Phoenix Multisport in 2007.  After beating his own addiction to drugs and alcohol, Scott's nonprofit organization offers free athletic activities and a sober support community to over 6,000 participants in Colorado.

Malya Villard-Appolon, herself a rape victim, co-founded an organization that has helped over 4,000 rape survivors find safety, psychological support and legal aid.

Leo McCarthy started Mariah's Challenge in memory of his daughter, who was killed by a drunk driver.  His nonprofit has awarded over $150,000 in scholarships to teenagers who pledged not to drink while they are underage.

Each of these individuals has stepped out of their comfort zone to bring help, healing, compassion, strength, encouragement, and assistance to others who were incapable of helping themselves.  Three of these heroes took their own tragic circumstances and channeled their energies into helping others caught in the same situations.  The other two brought support and assistance to young people who had slipped through the cracks of society's care and concern.  All of them exemplify Christ's admonition to ...love your neighbor as you love yourself.