Last week at youth group, Pastor Phil was talking about Compassion, and im not sure exactly why, but it struck a chord in my spirit.

In an attempt to further understand compassion this morning, I began to observe those around me. 

 Watching expression and interaction. Went to school, did the norm, on the way home, i skateboarded some, watching peopel go by, giving nods to people that i rode past. As i neared the downtown area...

 I noticed a young guy about my age pushing a much older man in a wheelchair. The older man, with his jaw dropped and tongue out to the side, appeared rather disfunctional, both physically and mentally. 

The interesting thing about this scenerio was that the younger man was in conversation with him anyways. I stopped riding and picked up my board, and slowly walked by them.

 Immediately after noticing this, another strange event caught my eyes.  Another guy around 18 or 19, walking the other direction, was locked arms with a facially disfigured man whose knees buckled every time he would take a step due to his inward grown feet. 

 I then thought to myself what courage... what compassion these two young men have... you know.. having to face the agitated inept stares from such an unknowledgable audience. 

"How would I handle this?", I thought to myself. 

Then there it was... the opportunity that would give me my answer.  It was as if God put him right in front of me. 

There before me was a man in a motorized cart with a bag of apples on his lap, His cart had stopped and he was frantically trying to reach for a lever that would help him move. He couldnt do it. He looked around for help, he couldn't speak a word, only groans, and he smelled horrific.  I found myself leaning forward and grabbing hold of a lever under his cart...Holding my breath from his strong odour...I began to push his motorized cart forward, at the same time watching intently for his expression.  With the biggest grin, he took a gasp and then let out a noise of some kind of happy word. 

Though I couldn't understand his speech... I knew his emotion.  We conversed for a minute of two.. me with words and him with his noises, then he putted away. 

I was then and there changed by a new revelation of the word "compassion"!   Becoming quickly aware that it had a whole lot more than just a feeling. 

As i got back on my skateboard,

I broke the word down into two parts; "com" and "passion".  Com... com... com... I kept repeating it.  Words like communicate, commend, comment, commerce, command... they just started coming to my head. 

Why? what do all these words have in common.  Then it clicked... execution... yes that's it.. execution!  They're all a form of acting upon a thought and emotion by executing it in the physical form.  So then if passion is a strong emotion.. a strong desire developed from thought... then the two roots being both "com" and "passion" when placed together have to mean more.  Compassion must have more depth than just being "a feeling". 

My new definition of  the word "COMPASSION" is now "Communicated Passion".

Having said all this... I have determined for myself that to have compassion is not merely the emotion and the feeling, nor is it the ability to see limitless potential among even the most uncapable or ignorant and apathetic of persons. 

It goes far beyond a genuine love for anyone or anything, and exceeds even those desires that at times have consumed our every thought for days on end.  Because the question we need to ask ourselves in those moments is, "Will I do something or just think it?"

Simply put friends... Passion is the feeling, but Compassion is the action that has resulted from the feeling.

I have a new found love for people! It's undescribable! I mean I thought I did before but it burns in me so much stronger now!

If you happen to read this whole confession of mine and get something out of it...  please don't give me thanks because it didn't come from me.  Thats the great thing about God and his revelation, it really humbles you. 

 peace to whoever reads this all.