Posted by Anne Ward on June 10, 1999 at 17:05:25:
In Reply to: Compassion posted by april on June 09, 1999 at 18:59:53:
How profound....he was afraid of losing compassion for the Chinese! What a heart and what faith!
For myself, I am still trying to define compassion that does not get mixed up in mushy/feelings stuff...but I think this man has given me much food for thought.
April, do you or anyone else have a problem with a working definition of compassion? Do you *know* if you are compassionate..I mean, we don't sit around saying: aw, that was a compassionate thing I did! I think that is why I am anxiously awaiting Phil's workshop on Love which starts in July! I want to learn more and more about agape love, which i think is tied in with compassion. Any thoughts?
forgivenss on line! Now, that is a site I want to visit. In the past i would have been there right this moment, but since my first life confession, I am simply in awe of the healing power of the sacrament of Penance! AWESOME! When I was a good ole protestant, I had asked forgiveness over and over about things, had forgiven my father for his abuse [I thought I had forgiven], but the memories lingered on ...and on! But..after my life confession, it was as if the memories were thrown in the sea of forgetfulness! Honest....I have a hard time even recollecting them at all whereas before they were always there...ready to come forward. No more! and I am deeply, so deeply grateful for this Sacrament provided us by Christ through the Church.
whoops...got carried away, but I can get very carried away when it comes to the Catholic Church....THE Church!
anyway, if anyone wishes to throw out a definition of compassion that one can use in every day life, please do so! Frankly I don't know if it is easy to define.
blessings, and grace,
anne