Compassion

by Lynette Robinson

Send Love and Compassion

We live in a vastly populated world with many people whose paths cross ours daily.  These people have differing belief systems based on upbringing and life experiences.  It would therefore make sense that we will sooner or later meet and communicate with someone with a different opinion from us.  Sometimes we and they are respectful of each other allowing both sides to be heard and an agreement is made to respect each side even when we don’t necessarily hold the same attitude towards that one situation.  The ideal outcome would be for both to walk away at peace but in my life I have more often than not been left troubled and sorrowful that the other person was so misguided.

In this world of tremendous personal disconnection and conversations that often happen in the vast space of the electronic world, anonymous attacks on intelligence, character and morals happen on a daily, hourly, minutely (is that a word?) basis and feelings can be trampled by complete strangers. 

We are mortals and humans.  We feel more comfortable with people who share our attitudes and values.  We believe that truth as we know it is the only truth there is and another opinion can’t possibly be right.  God or our place of authority says such and such and anybody who deviates from that ideal is wrong! Period!!  Our values can only be defined by our view because that is the way we see it. 

I have held that attitude for many years and found myself in conflict with another from time to time. I thought that holding my position on what I believed meant that others needed to agree with me because it was truth as I knew it.  Only after I started on my journey that is far from over, to find peace and harmony in the face of disagreement I am finding that I have much to learn.

Elder Russell M Nelson

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has offered us some ways to avoid contention: (1) “show compassionate concern for others”; (2) “bridle the passion to speak or write contentiously for personal gain or glory”; and (3) “in humble submissiveness, truly [love] God.”¹ Then we can have the Spirit of the Lord with us, not the spirit of contention. Russell M. Nelson, “The Canker of Contention,” Ensign, May 1989, 70–71.

When we come from a place within ourselves of balance, peace, gratitude and self-worth, the comments and attitudes of others is less likely to create negative emotions within us. We feel less inclined to attack.  We really don’t know the level of self-confidence or fragile feelings of the other and when we are unkind we often reinforce the idea that people are all just plain mean.

 The word compassion is defined as:

1. Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

"The victims should be treated with compassion"

synonyms:		pity, sympathy, empathy, fellow feeling, care, concern, solicitude, sensitivity, warmth, love, tenderness, mercy, leniency, tolerance, kindness, humanity, charity "Have you no compassion for a fellow human being?"
antonyms:	indifference, cruelty

I looked this up in the online dictionary and I think that there is one more definition that has been missed and that is when we have compassion we try to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, try to see the situation from their perspective and understand why they might have come to that conclusion.

We can lift those around us.

I also love the antonyms “indifference and cruelty.”  When we have no compassion we are indifferent and/or cruel.  I’m not sure we want that.

I also think of the vibration of each word.  Can you say “Compassion?”  How does it make you feel deep down inside?  Now say the word “Cruelty.”  Do you feel a different type of vibration? You could even try muscle or sway testing these two words to see how your subconscious feels about them.  Are they positive or negative?.   If you aren’t sure what muscle testing is, look up videos on Youtube.com.

Think of your most important person in the world.  Do you always find yourself in agreement?  Would you want to always agree?  Actually, we learn a lot from people who don’t agree with us.  A difference of opinion gives us a wonderful opportunity to do two things.  First, it allows us to step into that person’s shoes and see what they might be challenged with.  Second, it offers a challenge to learn things we hadn’t necessarily thought about studying more.  The people who love us are not usually those who would intentionally lead us astray.  They often are those who have our best interest in mind and want us to do our very best.  Sometimes, our loved ones see us better than we see ourselves and encourage us to look at ourselves and our path so that we can make course corrections to avoid danger, disappointment and lost opportunities.

Sometimes our disagreements happen with complete strangers.  We're tired, annoyed or want to set the record straight.  A flip comment in the wake of misunderstanding gives negative energy to someone that will carry it until they get an opportunity to dump it on another.

In my retail store a customer would be difficult, contrary or sometimes downright mean.  It would have been easy to be upset at the encounter but our management would explain that when someone enters our store “loaded for bear” it was often because of how they had been treated elsewhere and isn’t necessarily a reflection on us.  That wasn’t always the case and either way we tried hard to serve well.

Ripples of Compassion

I recently commented on a statement a friend of mine reposted on Facebook.  Almost immediately another comment was made accusing me of “butting in where I hadn’t been invited.”  My first reflex was that of anger.  I didn’t go out cruising for placed to comment.  My friend had posted that statement on her wall and I was a little shaken because I wasn’t sure how this person was even connected to the post.  In the past I might have written something in defense of my position but instead I deleted my comment and consciously reached out to the Spirit for an infusion of peace and love which I envisioned sending out from my heart to this individual.  I was amazed at how it calmed my heart and I found compassion for that individual.  I was no longer caught up in what I considered his mistaken opinion but thought about the vibration that might have caused him to lash out at a complete stranger.  Interestingly, before I could get my comment deleted, a female also commented in support of his statement.  I wondered if they were related since they had the same last name and found myself sending love to her also.  I am grateful to know that I can change myself and my reaction to those who throw fiery darts.  I hope that this is a once in a life time thing for them and that they were just having an off day.  

The Spirit tells us that we are all brothers and sisters.  We are literal Spiritual offspring of God with magnificent heritage and potential.  We must lift the arms that hang down, brighten the heart of those who lose hope and bring light to a dim and dreary wilderness. 

Thank you for joining me on my quest for light and truth.  Please feel free to share.

Lynette Robinson