His son and family were visiting from Asia. His neighbor had been struggling with some health concerns. He was excited to have a special dinner with his family, but before they ate, they plated one helping and delivered it to the neighbor. His concern for his neighbor led to a compassionate idea that he acted on.
It meant a great deal to the neighbor. I know because she shared the story with me. As she told me about her friend’s thoughtfulness, compassion, and act of kindness, I thought of all the times I’d thought to myself “I should …” and then didn’t. In that moment, I realized how many times I’d ignored the Spirit’s promptings. And I prayed silently that it wouldn’t happen again.
We are one family. We share one LORD, one Father of all. We share one Redeemer and brother, Jesus Christ. We share our world with its blessings and its challenges. And compassion, literally “suffering with” another should be automatic. And the Spirit nudges us with these ideas within our capabilities, but we don’t always act upon them. How could our world be different if we did?
That natural human compassion is there for a reason, to help us live out more beautifully and wholly the commandment of loving one another as we love ourselves. It’s easy to be with others in the “good times.” But are we willing to accompany others in the trying times, to tend to them with care and compassion, to give them those things we ourselves would want or need?
I love how the LORD teaches us if we will only pay attention. I appreciate the Spirit’s prompting of the compassionate neighbor, but I also appreciate the friend sharing the story, calling me to be more faithful in listening to and cooperating with the Spirit. Jesus promised me the Spirit to guide me and grace me for this journey. Why do I ignore the Spirit? Why don’t I act on the ideas of loving care and kindness the Spirit stirs within me? I’m not sure. But I’m going to focus on that more.
We have so many opportunities each day, each hour of each day to do good, to love well, to see Christ in others and to serve Christ by serving others. Let us all seek to open ourselves more fully to the Spirit who reveals Christ, who reveals the real needs around us, and who graces us with the gift of compassion. Let us act on the ideas of the Spirit, on the call to love one another as Christ has loved us. There are so many opportunities every single day.
Until tomorrow, let us all love well.