Compassion

Last week’s blog on “Love” led me again to focus on “compassion” and the words and works of Christ Jesus. The Gospels repeatedly indicate that Jesus “moved with compassion toward them” – towards those he fed, preached to, taught, restored and healed. This is holy work. All mankind can join and move in this work. Moving toward other human beings with compassion is true Christianity.

A poem by Louisa Mary Coade from the Christian Science Sentinel (March 28, 1936) captures an essential aspect of this compassion which blesses human activity and interaction.

True Compassion
By Louisa Mary Coade

Wrap around thy brother the mantle of compassion;
See him pure and holy as thou thyself wouldst be;
By the Golden Rule of love the Master taught us, fashion
All thy thought and speech and acts until thou set him free.

The Gospels clearly show Jesus Christ loved God and his fellow man. His love, his compassion was greater than any hatred, any iniquity. This love healed. And, clearly centuries after Jesus walked on earth, I believe the world continues to hunger and thirst for such compassion and love for all mankind. True compassion and love are so vital to healing of sin and sickness, to being truly affectionate and empathetic one to another.

Mary Baker Eddy, the discover of Christian Science, wrote, “Let us open our affections to the Principle that moves all in harmony—from the falling of a sparrow to the rolling of a world” (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 174).

When I think of our beloved country and beautiful planet, I have mentally struggled at times to feel love and peace will prevail. Yet I know the desire for and practice of love does make a difference. So, in my small role as I strive to lead the organization of Wide Horizon with active compassion, I do witness how individual and collective prayer and compassion supports the work of Christian Science nursing. I see Wide Horizon as a spiritual house and workplace – one acknowledges and expresses compassion and understanding, harmony and health, renewal and restoration, well-being and wholeness, and so on. Thus, dear readers of Wide Horizon’s field and community, our good works here can be fully appreciated and valued by each of us as we truly value and support the activity of Christian Science nursing. In fact, the more each of us moves with true compassion towards all mankind, dispelling darkness in the light of Christ, the more I am convinced love and peace will prevail.

D. Brian Boettiger