No one is blameless.  No one is all good.  We get confused about what is real and what is right. And truly it is easy abandon compassion and mercy when we don’t see any need for it, and we don’t know or accept a person.  If there is a person that we see that is different and seems like a threat to what we have or what we know, it is not likely that love or compassion is the first thing on our minds.  After all, the fact is that there are people that are desperately set on hurting others.  Some are lacking the ability to think any other way.

I don’t think that compassion or love ignores those facts.  I think that it exists because of those facts.  There are many different kinds of problems.  Some of our problems are easily seen, like the problems that can appear as fat, anger, hostility, depression.  And there are some problems that are not easily seen, like stealing money, abuse, addictions, things that can be kept in the home or hidden away.  Our problems vary, and are usually harmful.

We can’t pretend that there are people that don’t have problems.  Everyone does.

That is why Love and compassion is a gift.  We need it.

photograph by nancy marie davis