Compassion
We have just concluded a fun run of Vacation Bible School on Zoom computer connections with the children connected with our church and the children of The United Congregational Church of Tolland, CT. We called it Compassion Camp and each week we studied, sang, storied and got silly as we taught the young people about God, the Bible and having compassion. One week we learned about compassion for ourselves, another week was compassion for our neighbor, and another still was compassion at the table. For six weeks we really unpacked what it was to have compassion and why it was so important, and the kids were remarkable. Kids as young as four years old were teaching and telling about the role of compassion in our lives.
One child said, “We can have compassion for ourselves by wearing our masks and washing our hands.” Another said, “Yes, and we must also have compassion for those who don’t understand why it is important” These VBS kids were amazingly wise.At the close of each session, Lydia Hoffman, our Director of Christian Education, would invite the students to make the shape of a heart with their hands and then ask them to name someone or something they would like to send some compassion to. They were so generous and so insightful about who and what needed compassion. And then Lydia would ask them to take the heart shape they had made with their hands and fold into hands of prayer. And each one of the kids was really into it! They knew our world really needs love, prayer and compassion, now more than ever before. It was powerful and poignantAnd as VBS came to an end I began wondering what we would offer for the upcoming Sunday School year and how could we give them something that was instructive and meaningful . I worry and wonder and pray for the kids of our church just as I worry and wonder and pray for the adults of our faith community. I pray for all who are able to make it the computer and I pray for those who do not. I worry I am not offering us all enough. I worry about us all staying together, compassionately. We are all still church, together and we must have empathy and understanding for each other.
As we stay in virtual connection and wait for the time when we can gather again safely. we are unsettled and the future is unsettling. Going back to school feels unsettled and unsettling. Meeting for lunch? Having a funeral service? Wanting to sing in a group? Missing our friends and family? Turning on the news? It all seems unsettled and certainly that is unsettling. And so we must follow the guidance of our VBS kids, make the shape the of a heart, the sign of love and compassion and then move our hands into the act of prayer. We must be kind as we struggle with this pandemic and we must work hard to recognize that everyone is doing their best just to keep going. I know that I have to remind myself to have compassion for… myself! This Covid 19 stuff is really hard and at times I am not sure I am going to make it. Family stuff is hard, work stuff is hard, health stuff is hard and political stuff is hard!
So, I was grateful when I was the unexpectedly the recipient of a compassion prayer from a VBS kid last week. It came just in the nick of time.
Recently I was privy to an adult argument that centered around whether people should be wearing masks when they go to the Eliot Cumberland Farms store. There was heat and hurt and horror enough to go around. What there was not enough of was compassion.
As one child said, “We have more toilet paper than we do compassion in this world.” And he was referencing that there has been a TP shortage at his house.
A passage from the Bible tells us “Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore them, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.( Galatians 6:1-3 The Message Translation).
This year, everyone is having a hard time and there is a shortage of answers and a shortage of peace. Let’s make sure there isn’t a shortage of compassion! Let’s move our hands and our hearts into the shape of love and prayer, always.
