40 Days of Compassion

I’ve heard some major bombshells and confessions from friends and associates in the last year, committing and surviving–STD’s, domestic violence, substance abuse, coming out of the closet to hostile parents, moving across the world, breakups, murder of a parent, child abuse, death of loved ones, fraud, cancer, robbery, out of wedlock children, divorce, infidelity, racism, paralysis, sexual harassement, homelessness, mental illness, etc.  And so many are unemployed I’ve lost count.

I heard another big one today from a friend.  A very bad, violent one.

In every case, I wish I’d been more compassionate to the people in question than I was before I knew of their hidden pain and suffering.  Even the friends I was already incredibly supportive of to begin with I would have been better to if only I’d known.

Folks there’s a lot of suffering out there.  People are hurting.  And darkness is just that–dark.  (There’s a lot of light too.  My life isn’t one giant Lifetime movie.)

I’m beginning to get the hang of dealing with suffering though, at least for others.  There’s definitely a system.  You gotta listem, triage, love, and refer to experts while humbly helping but recognizing your limits and others’ free will.  No enabling.

But your default position has to be maximum love because you never know what someone’s carrying, and the worst, most evil things are also the most hidden.

And if you’re in trouble or distress, GET HELP.  You are not alone.  Everyone suffers some tough stuff in life.  If you are the source of suffering, GET HELP.  You can stop.  Literally, millions of people have gone astray and returned to their better selves.

The HUGE thing that everyone seems to miss in the midst of all this madness is that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand not when things get more comfy but when the the demands of love become more pressing, not when we try to bend God to us but when we bend to God.  If you confess something tough whether as victim, enabler, or perpetrator, then the Church comes to you and can help in liberation.  Creative turmoil often means that the Holy One is in the midst.  The opposite is definitely true, for God loves to turn our upside-down selves right-side up.  Fear not!

To quote St. Peter, not exactly Mr. Perfect or Unbroken himself when he healed the paralyzed man, “Silver or Gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”