Continued: "The horizontal beam of the Cross, the light of community and Compassion"

There are currently several things happening in our world. Those who engage in compassionate outreach and those who do not are like two opposing poles. Many are suffering under compassion fatigue. The philosophy of Objectivism and other influences (Freud, Marx, hidden racism, religious wars and theological teachings on “false compassion”¹ etc.) have taken hold and have come to a head after many decades. The result is that we are blaming victims for their misfortune, in addition to a lack of compassion. In contrast, there is an interesting trend happening in many churches as well as in individuals. There is the urgent call to mission ministry, to reach out to those in need. True, that call has existed for some time but more and more individuals and churches are called to such ministries. Underlying motivation of these outreach ministries is compassion. The gift of compassion is the road that leads through the cross to the resurrection. That is also my answer to the questions: "How can we move into the resurrection when there is so much suffering and evil? How can we talk about resurrection when all we feel is crucified?” I am not ignoring the cross; the cross, attended in compassion, is the road to resurrection. We must not be stuck in the cross's image and its physical and mental terrors.

Many are at the cross at this moment. Likewise, many are suffering in one form or another. It is our compassionate presence, a compassion that must never fatigue, which will help those at the cross to rise above and join in the resurrection. Whether that rising above is physical or spiritual does not matter. What matters, is that we keep our hearts open, overflowing, with compassion and care for one another. When you think about it, that is what Jesus did. His compassion was so perfect and total; he went on the cross for us. He never once questioned if we deserved it. He, coming from the eternal light, brought the same together with the earthly light of community and friendship. He rose from the dead so that we too may rise. In the end, he called his disciples friends, drawing them into the light of friendship as well as the eternal light.

Unfortunately, so many things have been happening lately that many of us have become numb (dead inside); suffering from compassion fatigue. Catastrophes become often just another event to us. Not even bloody bodies seem to faze us anymore. We MUST catch ourselves. We MUST look at each suffering person. We must truly see, truly hear, and then truly empathize with their pain without blame. We know very little about other people's lives, only assumption with little knowledge. We cannot even begin to make judgment! It is only then when we let compassion take a hold of us that we are truly human and are able to aide another person. We then can truly assess their need without judgment. Only if we are able to stand at the cross with another who is suffering can that manifest within us. Only as we stand in the light of friendship and community, through prayer, and with God's grace in Christ will we join at the intersection of the eternal light. Such a moment will bring us into the resurrection and the promise of Christ's salvation.

1Http://www.christianfamilyoutreach.com (accessed on 5/7/2013). There is an article ( see webpage for example) talking about the unenlightedness of having compassion for sinners. They see it as a lowering of the standards of the Church.

The problem is that such a Church assumes that they are not sinners. Well, I disagree, there is not one person, not one Church who is not in sin and doesn't need compassion. Hence no one can condemn someone who sinned and withhold compassion. There is such a thing as "false compassion" but its not something that lowers church standards, but rather something that harms the person who is already addicted or has problems. If someone is having withdrawal symptoms from a drug and I think I am compassionate by giving them the drug then I am exhibiting "false compassion." However, I still can show compassion by sitting with them and letting them cry on my shoulder and help them through the withdrawal. The tendency is that false compassion is often cited when people suffer from compassion fatigue. I am aware of a group of churches who have linked themselves together by computer so that they all know who comes for help. People who come for help can only go to one of those four churches. Before, a person in need could go to get food at one church, get gas at another, and go for more food at the third one. They did NOT go to them to exploit them, they went because they needed more than they could get in one church. Now that is not possible anymore. Do we think it is "false compassion" if someone gets an extra morsel to survive?

 
Meditation:

Find a quiet spot where no one will disturb you. Stand or sit during this meditation. Breathe deeply. Follow your breath for a while with your mind. Then envision the vertical beam of the cross. Envision it is  a beam of light. Envision it clearly, don't forget to breathe. Then stand in the beam. After you are engulfed by its light envision the horizontal beam. Notice the horizontal beam stretching further and further out. It envelops the whole globe.  The community of compassion must grow. See the two beams of light in cross form upon each other with you standing in its light. Can you notice the vertical beam stretching downward into the earth and upward into the sky and space? Stand or sit in it as long as you can and have time, notice your feelings, your thoughts, what is happening? Breathe!

When you feel ready to leave the light cross, breathe deeply and give thanks to God for this experience, journal your experience.

© 2013 Angelika Mitchell