“But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.” (Luke 10:33-34 NASB)
At a Japanese restaurant where cooks razzle and dazzle you with their cooking skills, banging their knives, forks, and other instruments on the surface of a metal grill, and entertaining guests with humor, dramatic presentations using food as their props, and even mastering games such as flipping a piece of broccoli in the mouths of guest, two families sat at the same table. They were as different as the Samaritan man and the man needing help in the opening verses. One family’s roots were in Indiana, for the most part. The other family’s roots were from Alabama. One family was Black, and the other was White. One family consisted of two generations, a grandfather, and his middle aged, adult granddaughter. The other family consisted of two grandparents, their middle-aged daughter, and their college aged granddaughter. The latter family was the most talkative and entertained each other with funny stories. More than once, the college aged granddaughter called her grandfather the same name since she was a toddler, “Paw-Paw.” The grandfather of the family whose roots were in Alabama broke silence with his voice quivering shared that he had not heard “Paw-Paw” in a long time, pointing out that is what he called his grandfather who had passed 35 years ago. The more he shared, the more his water filled eyes turned to quiet tears sliding down the side of his face. The college aged granddaughter, listening attentively, and sensing his emotions, quickly rose out of her seat and said, “I have to come give you a hug.” She instantly, without anyone prompting her, showed compassion for this stranger, different in ethnicity, geographic origin, and generational identity. Everyone’s heart was pumping a little faster as their eyes filled with tears that they tried to hide. Everyone benefitted from the demonstration of the truth: Compassion cannot stay still.
As promised, Monday meditations will be minute or brief, but I have to say, “Wasn’t that a magnificent lesson you just read about compassion, as demonstrated by the young lady above?” Well take the demonstration and declare that today, you are going to See how your compassion will move you! You will find out that it cannot stay still. Be blessed!
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King