compassion

+ to feel for; share the suffering of

+ a human emotion prompted by the pain of others. More vigorous than empathy, the feeling commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering

+ a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering

+ the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Matthew 9:35-37

Jesus continued:

“There was a man who had two sons.

The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’

So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:11-32

happy early april fool's

May God bless you with discomfort. Discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen

May God bless you with anger. Anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen

May God bless you with tears. Tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. Amen

May God bless you with foolishness. Enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen

And the blessing of God, who creates, redeems and sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11

on measures and rulers

Sometimes I measure myself by the things I have not done.

Sometimes, they are regrets and failures.

Sometimes, they are things yet to be done, hopes and dreams and plans.

Sometimes I measure myself by the things others have done to me.

Sometimes, they make me cry and angry and hurt, filled with shame, and want revenge.

Sometimes, they make me cry and smile and let go and swell with pride and joy and forgive and love.

Sometimes I measure myself by the things I have done.

Sometimes, they are mistakes and wounds and tears.

Sometimes, they are successes and lightbulbs over heads and memories that make me smile.

Sometimes I measure myself by the things I have done to others.

Sometimes, they make me feel embarrassment, shame, guilt, grief, malice, and righteous indignation.

Sometimes, they make me understand that I'm only passing on something that was given to me.

but most of the time I try to remember my ruler isn't marked by these things.

.... how do you measure yourself?

How do you be angry?

This is something that I've been thinking about for a long time. I read a blog of a friend of mine a few years back where his son was watching tv or playing or doing whatever kids do. Then out of the blue he asked his dad, "How do you be angry?"

What a question!

I have yet to hear any lecture or sermon on even one good piece of advice on this that I feel has really answered my question.

Anger to me is often characterized by rashness, tempers blown, yelling, pots boiling over, steam coming out of ears, faces turning red, tears shed, etc.

The most poignant scene I have been given so far is a short skit shown at Urbana 09 on what Jesus may have been thinking aloud while carefully braiding the whip he would later use to drive the merchants and sellers out of the temple.

But slow-burning, methodical anger - that sounds like revenge to me.

"Don't let the sun go down while you are angry." Ok, but I feel this is more of a sidestepping to my real question.. isn't it?

Revenges, grudges - they leave a bad taste in my mouth when I say them, and even when I'm typing them.

I know personally at times I want to let go of my anger so much the feeling is very intense,.

Other times I refuse to let go of my anger and want to throw things that will shatter easily and everywhere and cut everything to match the way I feel inside. Still other times, I feel justified and - the perfect term - self-righteous in my anger; I feel deserving of the feeling and that no one should take it away from me until everything I say goes and everyone around me agrees with me and understands me.

There is a scene I picture every time I feel angry. I imagine that each situation I'm in is me holding a pair of pliers while I have a ticking time-bomb in front of me. I have only 5 seconds to diffuse it. The red wire, the blue wire, or the green wire?

I almost always choose the wrong wire.

Is there a right way to be angry? A question hard to answer, especially since the answer could be different for every person and every situation..

I need to go right now but I'll write more on this later...

the substance of things unseen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bco4kmBHEKQ

We planted the seed while the tears of our grief soaked the ground
The sky lost its sun, and the world lost its green to lifeless brown
Now the chilling wind has turned the earth hard as stone
And silently seed rise beneath ice and snow

And my heart's heavy now
But I'm not letting go of this hope I have that tells me

Spring is coming, Spring is coming
And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear
Spring is coming, Spring is coming
It won't be long now, it's just about here

Hear the birds start to sing
Feel the life in the breeze
Watch the ice melt away
The kids are coming out to play

Feel the sun on your skin
Growing strong and warm again
Watch the ground: there's something moving
Something is breaking through

New life is breaking through

Spring is coming, Spring is coming
And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear
Spring is coming, Spring is coming
And it won't be long now, it's just about here

Spring is coming, Spring is coming
(Out of these ashes, beauty will rise)
And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear
(Sorrow will be turned to joy)
Spring is coming, Spring is coming
(All we hoped for soon will appear)
It won't be long now, it's just about here
(Out of the dark clouds, beauty will shine)
(All above in heaven, rejoice)
(Spring is coming soon)
(Spring is coming soon)

spring is coming - steven curtis chapman