The Hardest part....

Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

It is by far the most difficult thing to do, to forgive, to not condemn. To show compassion to even the jerks we meet in life. It is most difficult to show such compassion when we think we are right and others are falling so short. It is painful to be judged, it is probably the main thing that turns folks off from Christianity. If I was in despair, hurting, poor, hungry, lazy, confused or simply apathetic towards life in general, it would be tender compassion, without judgement that would draw me to a better way. It would be a kind word. A kind deed done without a sermon, it would be something so beautiful, so full of love that would draw me to want something different for myself.

It is the loving deed, the compassion without condemnation that speaks to our hearts. It is the way of Jesus that leads us to him.

I will admit that its easy for me to not sit in judgement when it comes to some of the most unlovable creatures we may see on the street, but so much harder to not judge, talk badly or condemn the family member or friend that just seems to be a bit off track or be a bit confrontational.

We are a work in progress and compassion is not always an easy thing for us to live out.

This is something I keep close at hand, hoping that by reading it enough, I will understand it fully and live it. The Buddhist thought on compassion has given me a much greater understanding when it comes to passing no judgement on another and just opening our hearts.

"Compassion is really just the opening our hearts to suffering without allowing our judgments to get in the way. If someone is suffering and we judge them, this closes our hearts and fills our mind with harsh opinions. Compassion does not mean we do not see the mistakes others make; it means we have sympathy and understanding for their difficulties, knowing we are not really different from them."
~Kinrei Bassis~