Today I join hands with bloggers around the world to take part in a fantastic initiative.
#1000Speak For Compassion
It all started with a post by Lizzi Rogers, entitled ‘We All Need The Village’. This was taken up by Yvonne Spence and turned into this wonderful project.
Today, 20th February, bloggers are doing this:
What does Compassion mean to me?
For me, whenever I hear the word compassion, I recall Henri Nouwen’s provocative essay on the subject. I realized then what a powerful virtue true compassion is. Compassion is not merely kindness. No, it’s putting ourselves in the place of another. Walking in her shoes. Feeling his pain. Looking beyond on the obvious. Reaching out of our comfort zone, to truly ‘be’ with another.
Compassion is hard to practice. But without it, we can no longer be truly human.
Today, I am reminded of one of my childhood heroes, Father Damien, who came to be known as ‘The Apostle of the Lepers’*, and was later canonized to be a saint. Born in Belgium, he became a Catholic priest and was sent to Honolulu, Hawaii. When volunteers were called for to go on a short-term trip to minister to people who had contracted Hansen’s Disease (formerly referred to as ‘leprosy’) and were exiled on the small island of Molokai, Fr Damien signed up.
As you must be aware, leprosy was a most dreaded disease and people were shunned and ostracised. Damien was sent with this warning from his Bishop:You must avoid any form of contagion. If they pass around a pipe [a common cultural occurrence] you must refuse it. Above all, you must not join in meals and eat from the communal pot with your fingers, as others do. Even the saddle that a leper has sat upon must be taboo to you, and I forbid you to sleep in the hut of a ‘leper.’*
Father Damien was deeply moved by the plight of these people, who were literally cast upon this island, abandonded and in dire need of medical, psychological and spiritual attention. He decided to stay on in Molokai. There he ministered to the needs of the people, including empowering them to build houses for themselves and the community. Finally, he himself contracted and died from the effects of leprosy.
This to me embodies true compassion.
Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless. Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human – Henri Nouwen
The plain fact is that the planet does not need
more successful people.
But it does desperately needs
more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers,
and lovers of every kind.
David Orr
*We no longer refer to people as lepers, but as suffering from Hansen’s Disease.
What you can do:
Join the initiative. Blog, link and share about compassion.
If you’d like to blog about this and need a prompt, you will find inspiration here.
Go visit this #1000Speak link to find and links to posts of all the voices speaking for compassion today.
Like #1000Speak on Facebook
If you’re not a blogger, please read, comment and share as many links as you can on social media with the hashtag #1000Speak.
This is beautiful. I think I’ve heard of him before, or another like him, but such wonderful works were done because he truly, genuinely cared. A gorgeous example for everyone.
Thanks for joining in 1000Speak and being part of the movement. It’s awesome 🙂
Considerer recently posted..I CAN stop beating myself up about self-compassion
True we need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind.
Thanks for sharing Fr Damien’s story of compassion towards lepers!
Shilpa Garg recently posted..Compassion in Everyday Life #1000Speak
Glad to see your post for this initiative Corinne. One thing that I realized through your post is that compassion is not merely kindness but the ability to feel the way a person does when he needs help. That indeed changes the whole way we look at compassion.
Vinodini Iyer recently posted..The Post-Valentine’s Day Post
Glad to be part of this too Corinne. People like Father Damien come on earth to remind us of our humanity. Lovely post.
Ina Tales recently posted..Join the 1000 Voices for Compassion
“Compassion is hard to practice”. Powerful post. Thanks for sharing this story.
Payal Agarwal recently posted..Compassion #1000Speak
Wow…truly inspiring story, Corinne. Never heard of him before. Would like to teach my kids about him. Thank you for sharing.
this was indeed inspiring to read…may his tribe increase.
the little princess recently posted..Role reversal..
Beautiful corinne and very inspiring too…. I did not know about this sharing on compassion, thanks for the links you give, I have started to think on compassion, to see if I can write a post, appreciate you for your initiative and thank you for sharing…
Very G00d Post Corinne Rodrigues .Love it.
Niharika recently posted..The white-haired women —- Grandma
the quote tells it all… to feel other’s pain and empathize with them is the greatest act of compassion we can practice every day.. all it takes is a hug, a thank you, a smile, a word of encouragement.. and fulfilling someone’s need to be needed.. need to be understood…
Sounds like an interesitng initiative.
Joyce recently posted..Je suis Jeuf.
This was a wonderful post. I especially like the story of Father Damien and the full Henri Nouwen quote. Thank you for giving me much food for thought today.
Dorothy Johnson recently posted..Rememering Friends
Henri Nouwen truly captures the essence of compassion in that quote! Father Damien’s story is inspiring and moving! Thank you for sharing Corinne! 🙂
Aditi recently posted..Asha #1000speak
Sounds like a wonderful project! Thank you for a lovely post.
Nicole recently posted..Style Tip: Design Your Home For You
Truly inspiring and thought provoking….thanks for sharing
Sheela recently posted..#1000Speak For Compassion—Writing and compassion
I had never heard of Father Damian . . . What a moving story! This world could surely use more people as compassionate as he was.
Blessings, Corinne!
Martha Orlando recently posted..Conversations With God
To go where it’s broken, to ask what the problem is and mean it… Compassion is hard to practice but it is a must…
Keep well Corinne 🙂
nabanita recently posted..How To Treat The Aged & The Elderly?
Certainly a story of true compassion – the world needs more people like Father Damien. I did not know his story – thank you!
Dana recently posted..Everyone has a gift to bring
Fantastic prompt and post. This ties in with a podcast I listened to today about compassion – it covered self-compassion as before we can be compassionate we need to show some compassion to yourselves!
Janine recently posted..Rebuilding the remnants of shattered dreams
This brought back memories for me (grew up in Hawaii). We learned about Father Damien and there’s even a private school named after him. Compassion is something we should all try harder to practice.
Erlene recently posted..St. Patrick’s Day Budget Decorating Tips for the Non-crafty
How nice, Erlene. Thank you for sharing.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Perfect Reject
What a wonderful initiative! #ibabloggers
Teresa (embracing the spectrum) recently posted..The 4 Surprising Ways My Son Has Made Me a Better Person
It was, Teresa. Hopefully there will be more.
And you know how moved I was by your post! You’re a fantastic Mom!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Food In Kolkata Calling
What a beautiful testament to the art of compassion. Thank you so much for sharing this post. xoxo #ibabloggers
Michelle recently posted..3 Ways to Live Without Regret
I’m glad you found it so, Michelle. Thanks for stopping by!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..10 Gratitude Tips
What a great initiative this is! Yes, Father Damien was the true embodiment of compassion. I remember reading about him in school. David Orr’s quote is spot on, as well.
Debbie D. recently posted..COLONOSCOPY: NOTHING TO FEAR!
Thanks, Debbie. I can still remember my grandmother reading that story out to me! I continue to be amazed. Years later, my father worked in a leprosy rehabilitation home and we learned how not to fear the disease at all. But in those times, with no knowledge and no treatment, Father Damien was brave!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Food In Kolkata Calling
To put others before self in dire circumstances is truly a shining example of compassion. Thanks for sharing this story.
Suzy recently posted..#1000 Speak – Compassion the Soul Connection
It is, Suzy. Thanks for your comment. I’m still playing catch up with the posts and have yet to visit yours. I’ll be by soon.
Hi Dear and I hope you are very proud of yourself for being part of something so important and special. I love this concept of writers joining forces and discussing compassion. Plus it kind of brings us into a membership party ya know. An association to speak.
I am so glad that the world is getting a little better with stopping their hypocritical ways of judging so many for thier health ailments. I try to tell myself the world just like the people in it have to take baby steps to change in order to make a major change of creation around them. Look what you did today? AMAZING!
Have an awesome week.
Irish
Thanks, Irish. I learned about this at the last moment, but just had to add my two pennies to the wonderful initiative. I appreciate your words and all you are!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Perfect Reject
The world needs compassion direly especially today.
Good job in joining this advocacy. May God bless the work of your hands.
Lux Ganzon recently posted..Letter From My Future Self
Thank you, Lux!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Perfect Reject