Call for Compassion

Hey.

So today, I decided to try something that I've been wanting to try for a while. I bought some fruit at Bravo today: 6 apples, 6 oranges, and 6 bananas. My mission? To give food to someone in need. I went to Manhattan today, so I figured I'd see somebody who'd be in need. So I saw this woman who was sitting in the subway with a sign I did not even read at first. I gave her one bag (which had two of each fruit) and went on my way. I parted ways with Althea then went up to the platform to catch the 5 train (I saw the woman eating one of the apples I had given her on my way up; how great I felt!!). I tripped up one of the steps to the platform and that second cost me the train. I felt like I should go back and talk to the woman, so I went back down the steps. I asked if I could pray with her, she said yes. I asked her name, she said Sunita (Soo-neeta)? I was so upset with myself for allowing myself to forget. Anyway, I put my hand on her knee, and she put her hand over mine and we prayed. I gave her another bag of fruit so that she could share more with her children. Then I left her.

Earlier, while I was walking to the 28 bus stop after buying the fruit, I started thinking about the whole nature of being compassionate. It's so hard to be compassionate in the city. It is so much easier to default to apathy and dehumanization. We can condition ourselves to walk past people much easier than we can allow ourselves to care. After my experience with Sunita, I noticed how weird I felt. I felt weird being compassionate. How terrible it is when a person gets to the point where they feel abnormal for caring for the needs of another person. That is something that HAS TO change. What would it be like if people created a culture of compassion towards those in need? Those suffering? What a different NYC. Compassion is contagious I will say. What was stirred in the minds of those who saw me praying with Sunita? How did Sunita (I can't help but feel like that's not her name....) feel when someone decided not to walk past her, but stop and read her sign about help for her and her kids and pray with her? Pray that God will meet their need and bring them through this struggle so they could one day testify about His goodness? Man, what a way God will change their lives. And change the lives of many more people if more decide to answer the call to be compassionate. Jesus, do it! I know that I have been moved by seeing the compassion of others. So Lord, start a chain reaction. Create a boldness in the people, especially Christians, to do something about the condition of their fellow man. Lord, when I spent that moment with Sunita, I was able to see that she was human. With her hand over mine, we were connected; she was my sister.

God, embolden my faith in You so that I may have more courage to be compassionate! Raise up others to do the same thing. Change New York City. AMEN.

=)

12:50 pm