What Would it Be Like

You know as well as I do that this world could use a lot more compassion. My good friend and mentor, @MarkWilsonGA,  helped me see that...

compassion is defined as empathy + action.

The more of this life I am privileged to walk and the more people I am honored to connect to, the more real this becomes to me.

I was recently watching a sermon by Kyle Idleman (@kyleidleman). He is the Senior Pastor of Southeast Christian church in Kentucky. He shared the following story:

He was preaching at his first church. It was a small church with only about 50 members. There was a little boy named Alan. He came to church every Sunday by himself. He lived just down the road from the church. This little boy was out of control. He was a mess. He would run around during the service hitting people. On one particular Sunday he was running around in the lobby. There were glass doors between the lobby and the sanctuary. Alan stopped running. Then in the middle of the sermon he threw a matchbox toy car. Glass shattered. Kyle marched Alan to his house with the intent of talking to his mom and dad and letting them know that Alan was not going to be able to come to church without them.

When he got to Alan's house he stopped. It wasn't really a house at all. It was a run-down, single wide trailer. No more than 500 square feet. Alan's mom stepped out and said, "What did that blankety, blank do now?" She grabbed him by the arm and marched him into the house, cussing the whole time. She started talking about how hard her life was because of "this kid."

Kyle looked around. He saw a couch with a stained pillow and blanket and knew this was where Alan must sleep. There was no dad in his life. 

Suddenly Kyle was overwhelmed by this, What would it be like to be Alan? moment. At that moment everything he thought about "this kid" changed for Kyle. He felt nothing but love for him. He was not angry anymore. 

Compassion becomes the most overwhelming feeling when we take the time to think, 

What would it be like...?

Kyle said, "I actually took the time on accident to understand a little bit of what life is like for him."

Think about that for a moment.

When was the last time you walked by someone and could tell they were in pain, but were too busy to stop and hear their story.

When was the last time you saw how someone behaved and made a judgment about their actions.

When was the last time someone shared gossip with you about another person and rather than find out the truth you instantly believed them.

When was the last time....today? this morning? yesterday? last week? right before reading this blog?

It's okay. We all do it. There are so many times I have done just that. I decided in my mind why someone made a choice or behaved in a particular way. But you know what, most of the time I am wrong. And the moment I find out the real story, I am overcome with grief and regret. It is literally like a punch in the gut. This has happened to me enough times that I am learning to stop, take my eyes off myself and think, "What would it be like" before I make a judgment.

I reached out to my Twitter PLN for some responses to
What would it be like...

• to be raised by a single mom who is so broken that she struggles to meet the emotional needs of her children? 
• if we focused on supporting kids (and each other) instead of seeking out punishments? Elizabeth Merce (@EMercedLearning)
• to know you have so many people who unconditionally care about you and your well-being that you felt it? Dustin Pearson (@DustinPearson2)
• if you had down syndrome or any diagnosis and realized your teachers and peers see you as different and already have a mindset that you can't do what others do so they don't even try to teach you or play with you? Melisa Hayes (@hayes_melisa)
• to go to school or work each day and know your teacher or boss can't stand you? Erin Kiger (@EBGtech)
• for people to always think you aren't capable? Don Sturm (@SturmDon)
• to live in a world where everyone could feel true joy and find their fullest potential? Stephanie Brown (@brownfamoffive)
• to be scared to walk around school everyday because you are bullied? Bonnie Nieves (@biologygoddess)

Kyle shared that he took the time "on accident" to find out what life was like for Alan.

What would happen if we took time on purpose to find out what life is like for others? 

Kyle says, "Take your eyes off yourself. Stop for a moment. Don't worry about what they believe. Don't worry about their politics. Don't worry that they're different."

Dear Educator...your students and parents need you to do this.
Dear Administrator...your teachers need you to do this.

The world needs us all to do this...now more than ever.

Imagine the ripple effect that would come if we each purpose to do this more often.

Remember: EMPATHY + ACTION = COMPASSION

So, stop before you act or react...
And think...

WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE?