How Moved Are You by the Plight of Others?

Compassion will move us from a place of personal safety and convenience, to a place of risk and potential harm for the sake of others.

Guest Writer: my husband, Justin Bradbury

At a time when people feel obliged to show and tell how moved they are by some event or personality, compassion could be deemed to be one of the virtues of our age. We are increasingly encouraged to wear our hearts on our sleeves.

The literal meaning in the Greek for the word “compassion” is to be moved in one’s guts.

Now, that’s deep.

Compassion is more than a superficial glance at somebody or a swift and flimsy response to a life situation.

It will take us to deep places with people which will disturb us.

But, we are already disturbed. We are already troubled by our thoughts and sentiments towards others, if we’re being real and honest with ourselves and before God.

For our honest response is more than a show-and-tell exercise to prove our emotionally-connected self.

So, a question: What moves you more than words can say?

This is an opportunity to take an audit of what is deep and true within you.

How moved are you by the plight of others?

Compassion will move us from a place of personal safety and convenience, to a place of risk and potential harm for the sake of others.

Does that ring true in you and me?