Inconveniently Compassionate

I am amazed at times by many human beings and their capacity to rise above their circumstances to provide encouragement and relief in the midst of their own struggles, heartache, pain and misery. Where does that ability to selflessly and compassionately give come from?

Jesus did set the example, grieving the loss of his cousin who was beheaded by an adulterous king (seems this has been an issue among leaders for centuries). He grabbed a boat and looked for a desolate place, and they followed.

The people and the disciples followed Him... they followed Him on foot so that when He came ashore, they were there. His response.... "He had compassion on them and healed their sick."

This provoked me in a couple ways...
Am I compassionate when its not convenient? If I am,. do I respond in love borne out of that compassion or with irritation and annoyance borne out of the inconvenience? Am I, like Jesus looking to the solution or like the disciples... looking for someone else to provide the solution (or worse yet, trying to avoid the situation all together).

What's that have to do with my opening statement? I see this in the midst of the tragedy which is the aftermath of a 7.3 earthquake which has crumbled Haiti and in the midst of people who rise up and serve one another. At a time when they are grieving the loss of family, friends, neighbors, schools, and hospitals - the very infrastructure necessary to deal with the enormity of the situation - a small band gathers under the trees to lift up holy hands and praise God - a brief respite in their attempts to be the hands, feet, life and love of Christ.

Maybe, survival in the midst of such tragedy makes it necessary for what we might consider heroic efforts to help and to love. Maybe survival challenges and rocks us because it makes everything simple again and the meaningless really does become meaningless again and the value of life - including the life of another - becomes paramount to all we are.

Watching Haitians serve Haitians in the midst of their own disappointment challenges me in my comfortableness and faith... I hope it challenges you in yours as well