This is my next tattoo…’One Love.’ My daughter asked me “does this mean that Dad is your one love?” I smiled and said “yes and no.” It means that we are asked to love others…all people. All people no matter who they are and what they have done. So she asked “even murderers?” And I said “yes, even murderers.” And she cringed and was completely confused. To attempt to explain to your 13-year old the immense nature of Compassion….well, it’s best felt or experienced in daily life.
The smile you get from the 3-year old in the grocery store that you don’t know. The man who holds a door open for you to pass through before him. The teacher who stays after class to help you to understand a problem you are struggling with. When you listen to an older person tell their life story. I once was at Goodwill on Valentine’s Day looking for an outfit for a 70’s party I was going to. There was a homeless man outside, disheveled, dirty…he looked at me, smiled and said “Happy Valentine’s Day.” I touched his arm and returned the sentiment.
See, all we really want is to be seen, to be loved. Those of us who are truly struggling with major life things such as homelessness, drug addiction, incarceration, grief and loss…especially need it. We are all connected, all of us. I am no better than the homeless guy at Goodwill or the murderers I used to work with in jail. When we open our hearts to all of humanity, then we equal the playing field. We become ‘One’ with ourselves and one with all people. The nature of compassion is simple…it is based in love.
Start with your heart, and you will never be wrong.
