I almost fell off the chair hearing that piece of simple, wise, profound and extremely hard to live by advice. It is indeed very simple and the more I journey in life, the more I realize the simplest things takes the most practice and effort. Precisely because the simplest thing is not necessarily the easiest thing to do.

The easier thing to do in circumstances that drive me nuts is to blame the other and judge them. That has been a default I operated in and I have also been given the grace to see how much I need to grow out of that. Once I tried walking a mile in the other’s shoes, I can begin to glimpse how hard it must have been to him/her. Only a glimpse can soften my heart a little to be more compassionate towards the other person. That glimpse would not be possible if my first reaction to the situation is to lash on the person. That glimpse is only possible when I begin to take a pit stop from the whole situation.

Pit stop is practically time I give to myself to be present to myself. I name my emotions and I give the situation a just look. When justice means the fault of the other; that is where I exercise my compassion. Yes, even if the other person holds the weightier fault, how do I respond lovingly in this situation? What is the shape of compassion in this situation? If I hold the weightier fault, can I have the humility to apologize? Can I allow myself to receive the compassion I need?

The journey to making compassion as my default is sure an interesting journey. If we want to learn patience, God would put us in situation where we are stretched and we grow in patience. If we want to expand our hearts to love, we will find ourselves in situation where we may find it hard to love with our natural ability. So it is with compassion – to grow in compassion, we need to experience compassion ourselves and to be in situations where we cry out for help. Only when we been through the fire of experience does our practice of compassion is made perfect.

The good news about our desire to grow and the price involved in it is that GRACE is always available for us;

“but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong”

– 2 Corinthians 12: 9 -10 –

Dear friends, if you are praying for an increase of compassion in your heart and found yourself in a sticky situation, take heart for GRACE is sufficient for you. Keep going, keep practicing for in our deliberate decision to make compassion our default, we will get closer to our goal. Even at times we falter, look up and smile for Compassion is reaching out His hands towards you to pick you up.

Have an amazing journey in growth!

With lots of love,

Irene