Compassion for Humanity

COMPASSION for HUMANITY

Lately I’ve been moving FORWARD in my spiritual journey in different ways and sometimes BACKWARDS…or so my mind tries to tell me. This weekend I began to “reflect” back, not only over the events of this past summer, but even way back. After asking my soul lots of questions during my “way to short” meditation times, I realized without a doubt that it was compassion that sits deep in my heart to sustain me through so much.

God is ALWAYS there… in lots of forms to support and sustain our ongoing journey. But it is ALWAYS in full compassion for me.  I KNOW that beyond any shadow of doubt.  Compassion likely LIVES in a space deep inside for every human being when we chose to latch on and accept the gift. Compassion for both myself and those around me has been lifting me up and over some incredible hurdles. I realize I am trusting my inner goodness…maybe that’s another way of expressing compassion. We have a GIFT…with no judgement involved. It is not like any of the learned behaviors of IF you do this, or IF you believe this, or IF you do not do that. Our conditioning through society, religious organizations, and well meaning friends and family have programmed our minds. But, today…I say STOP.

There is only one power, it is the power of God through LOVE. There is always such a debate about heaven and hell or the devil that is “causing” this or that. There are many podcasts out there with interviewers asking mystics, channels, and psychics what they hear from the world beyond our view? They all agree it’s a touchy topic to talk about and hard to wrap words around the concept.  And yet some do a very good job of simply saying that if we know God is LOVE…there can’t be a hell. Yes, there is evil in our world. Some people are living in that hell here on earth. But, it is not about a power out there somewhere. I’ve avoided this conversation with so many people out of respect for their beliefs. And now somehow I can even be comfortable that other people can believe whatever is working for them. I should have no opinion about it. That is compassion for others and their feelings.

I have judged myself sometimes, leaving compassion behind. But, I am learning. My complicated grief for my brother has moved more compassion into all of my relationships with my very large family. I am working on allowing that same growth in understanding to expand my compassion for humanity.  I realize that my tendencies are to judge humanity in general… after all; politics is driving us all crazy, the planet is suffering because too many people can’t accept global warming as real, and far too many people don’t realize their thoughts are creating division between races, countries, and ethnic differences.  No one wants to accept responsibility because it might bring CHANGE.  

Compassion for Humanity…as we change our thoughts we CAN change the world! 

Now back to self compassion so that we really CAN offer compassion for humanity. Here’s an exercise I decided to try. I’m sure I read this somewhere…probably way to many years ago to remember the source. I think the practice was to try somewhere with a gathering of relatives or a social gathering around home, but I decided to put it to work on National Television. What an eye-opener.

1. Watch TV for a solid hour during news coverage. I chose NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt because I like him as a person and I have always liked the way he ends every nightly newscast with, “Please take care of yourself and each other!”
2. Look at each and every person in the news coverage with unattached compassion. Send love and gratitude to each. Be sure to actually use words silently to yourself as you watch!
3. Listen through every add with unattached compassion. Send love and gratitude to each person involved.
4. Close your eyes and imagine a loving response for each individual using compassion as your guide.
5. After the hour, spend the next 15 minutes in quiet solitude and reflection. See what emerges into your being.
6. Close your eyes and ask spirit…”what do I need to know now?” ( I borrowed this from Suzanne Giesemann)

I won’t share my failings or my insights, but believe me when I say it was quite a MEANINGFUL experience! You might want to give it a try! You might be quite surprised at how uplifting it was in the end.

Compassion for Humanity CAN happen and just think what a difference you are making in the energy field of our amazing world today and every day of your life!

The experience took me to my bookshelf to simply choose a page in Of Course in Miracles: When Love Becomes a Way of Life by Alan Cohen. 

Affirm:

My Spiritual practice significantly elevates the quality of my life.

My miracle thoughts create miraculous results.

My self-judgments are meaningless in the face of my spiritual mission. 

~Of Course in Miracles Pg. 104 Alan Cohen