It’s like it happened yesterday. I woke up Christmas morning. It was still dark outside. No one else was awake in the house. I made my way from my bedroom, through the living room, to the dining room where my family always placed the Christmas tree. My eyes must have… Read More »Yes, I Believe in Santa Claus
He’s an experienced social worker. Now in his mid-thirties, he’s taken a position as the leader of a crisis team in his urban county. He and his team could be called on to stabilize mental health related crises anywhere in the county. This was the kind of job he really… Read More »Compassion and Compassion Fatigue
I’ve lost track of her over the years. We went to high school together, though she was in a class ahead of me. We got to be good friends in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. I have really great memories of Saundra as well as her family. She was… Read More »Community, Connection, and Compassion
She was sitting at a table under a shade tree. Her chair was one of those walkers with wheels that also has a seat. I went over and joined her at the table. When she saw me coming, a smile came to her face as she recognized me as a… Read More »Living with Compassion
I received a message from my church. A woman, whose name I didn’t recognize, had called for me. The message conveyed the sense that the woman wanted to speak only to me and that it seemed like her request was urgent. When I reached Emma, her voice was soft. She… Read More »Security, Austerity, and Compassion?
The story is a familiar one. He was a quiet kid. He spent time on line and seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts. He didn’t have many friends. He didn’t seem to want any. He didn’t cause anyone a problem. He was just a loner. Then one day people noticed… Read More »Social Isolation, Violence, and Compassion
I heard the news Monday morning after breakfast: the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, had died. Images of the former British Prime Minister ran through my mind. It’s difficult to forget her friendship with President Ronald Regan. I experienced discomfort as I recalled her cool, stern voice during her attacks on… Read More »The Death of the Iron Lady: A Reflection on Compassion
In an earlier piece, I explored a basic process for meditation for those who are starting a meditation practice. Continuing on this theme, I’d like to explore some of the differences related to meditation between Christian and Buddhist approaches. Of course, each great religious tradition maintains a tradition of meditation.… Read More »Christian and Buddhist Understandings of Meditation