Compassion

I have always had a question in my head.  I can hear the laughter now, and I know it's not simply the laughter that manifests itself in my head but it's yours or the laughter of those who know me.


Truth is I have many questions.  I often feel that my opinion is the most logical.  I don't mean that I am always right.  I am far from it.


The question I pose is how does one make a difference?


I understand that not everyone will be Mother Theresa or Gandhi or solve cancer.  The cancer one would be great wouldn't it?  How amazing would it be the one who wiped all of our tears away?  Cancer has touched us all in so many ways, how amazing would it feel to be that scientist?  The scientist who cures cancer will become instantaneously rich, but something tells me the money won't be the real reward.  


I don't believe it ever is.


I have received the frightened phone calls from friends stricken in worry that they or a close relative have cancer.  I have sat waiting and praying for the call that said "the coast is clear."  We have all been there.  Some of us have cried the happy tears or remission others the sad tears of a life that was taken too early.


So, if we can't be the ones with the scientific prowess or talent to solve that mystery...or we don't have the exact saintly qualities of a Mother Theresa or the calm and patience of Gandhi?


We continue to do the little things that matter.  We show compassion even when we are hurting ourselves.  We show love even when we feel something is missing.  We run even when we feel like walking.  We get up even when the lines under our eyes are as deep as the Grand Canyon.  


Compassion.  


Compassion is a way to make sure that your life makes a difference to someone else.  


When I was in the first grade, I brought a garden spider to class for show-and-tell.  


The garden spider escaped and made a web high up in the corner of the ceiling.  Rather than sweep it clear and kill it.  Or leave it be to it's Darwinian fate.  My teacher put up a sign on the wall indicating:


"Kim's spider.  Please leave web."


It's simple.  But, I will always remember that.  


Truth is you never know what people will remember.  


You never can be sure just what will make a difference or brighten someone's day or what they will remember for a lifetime.


A smile.


A thank you.


A held open door.