Jim’s explanation of compassion was ‘com’ – with; passion - ?  It seemed like it was the same definition as sympathy – with feeling.  Could you give the definition and clarification again, please?

A few weeks ago in our weekend services, we studied a journey toward authentic compassion. We considered a journey (Compassion Graphic">Compassion Graphic) away from authenticity to self-service generosity as well as a path to authentic self-sacrifice that comes from the heart.

Each journey starts with a passion. The word means “pain – a pain that causes action to be taken.” We are designed to be wrecked by something. For me, it is the suffering of children that happens when adults screw up. The kids are thrust into situations not of their choosing and that they are ill equipped for. When I see that, I feel passion – a pain in my heart that moves me to action.

What is your passion – what are you allowing yourself to feel pain over and what are you going to do about it?

At the point of pain, we make a choice. The most common choice is to move from pain to pity – “what you are going through is making me feel badly.” Pity is not an entirely positive feeling. Because I am feeling badly, I make your issue that pains me a project. I don’t see you; I see a solution to what is bothering me. I devise a way to do something to alleviate my pain and then I have no need to feel that way – I can finish the project. From there, moving to apathy is easy. Apathy is a Latin based word – “a means to” and “pathy” means feeling. Once I turn all your stuff into projects, I can decide to stop feeling. My pain goes away and I can move on.

I don’t believe we are ever to live without passion – without feeling pain when we witness brokenness and hurt. That pain is designed by God to move us to persistent action. The journey to compassion causes us to move from passion to sympathy. Again, it has Latin roots. “Sym” means with and “pathy” means feeling. My pain brings forth a desire to come alongside the wounded and serve them. Next is empathy. Yep, Latin. “Em” means in and “pathy” feeling. Once I allow the pain to motivate me and I come alongside the wounded, I can’t help but join them in their place and begin to understand the real issues and the real solutions that fix the systems causing the problem and not just bring “band-aid” solutions. Empathy brings me into the brokenness so I can work from the inside out. Compassion only comes after those steps because it means “com” to bear or carry and “pathy”- feelings. We are ultimately called to bear one another’s burdens. We are not to avoid them by making them projects we can “do” and then move on. Every tragedy is such because of the people – the creation of God – that are at the heart of the hurt. When we carry them to lasting solutions, we truly practice compassion.

I hope that helps. What is your passion? What keeps you up at night? Are you really alive if you don’t ache for those who are oppressed and hungry, abused or neglected? Passion is the emotion that causes our lives to tingle with energy straight from the throne room of God! Let’s fix what’s broken … passionately.

Scripture – (click on the links)

Matthew 9:36-38

Galatians 6:1-5

Romans 12:10-21