I have read many stories about compassion but that of Jean Donovan stood out. She was an American lay missionary who lived among the American Peace Corps in El Salvador. Jean, alongside other missionaries, provided food, shelter, and medical treatment to the victims of the civil war in El Salvador. Later, the American Peace Corps withdrew their volunteers from El Salvador because they were afraid the government death squad would target them. Almost all the Corp members left but Jean continued on this mission until she was murdered alongside three other sisters in 1980.
Jean chose to stay behind in El Salvador even after others fled. She wrote a letter to a friend explaining why she decided to stay behind and it read, “The Peace Corps left today and my heart sank low. The danger is extreme and they were right to leave. Now I must assess my own personal position because I am not up for suicide. Several times I have decided to leave El Salvador. I almost could, except for the children, the poor bruised victims of this insanity. Who would care for them?
Jean couldn’t leave El Salvador because of compassion. She wouldn’t, she couldn’t abandon the suffering children and then she risked and lost her life in the process. Jean’s case was an extreme example of compassion because she sacrificed her life in the process but that goes to show how far one can take a risk for the sake of compassion.
Unfortunately, the world of today lacks compassion. Even people who share the same blood do not understand the word compassion and its true meaning. Compassion starts with recognizing the plight of others, and then being disposed to take actions to relieve the pain, whether, physical, emotional, mental or psychological pain. It entails actions not just mere wishes or feelings of pity. It is a willing and deliberate desire to alleviate others’ distress through positive actions.
We all need compassion at certain times in our lives. We may not get as much as we want because those we expect compassion from may be navigating their storms in a different boat. Many people are overwhelmed with life challenges and their emotions are often hijacked by the different storms in their lives, making it difficult for them to think of being compassionate to others.
However, we can’t keep making excuses for a lack of compassion regardless of our battles. We are living in an era of horrible downward social trend, especially since the invention of social media where everybody is seeking relevance by all means.
It is sad to state that lack of compassion has degenerated to a point where someone will be dying from an accident and screaming for help, and another will be busy at the corner making videos to post on social media. It is a society where people make jokes about others’ predicaments and trivialize their cries. A society where abuse and violence are commonized. A society where betrayal, back-biting, wickedness and all sorts of evil prevail. A society where family, friends and relatives connive, set up, kidnap and kill each other for their personal gains. A society where the minority are being relegated, denied of their rights, starved or even killed by the majority. A society where masters, employers, and colleagues, sit on the progress and happiness of their subordinates. A society where house helps/maids/nannies are treated as slaves in the households where they serve.
Humanity without compassion makes no meaning. Jesus gave a perfect example of compassion in his ministry on earth. He had compassion for the sick, the lepers, the blind, the hungry, the bereaved, the troubled, and anyone going through different tribulations. He healed, helped, sustained, nourished, encouraged, and made whole of many people in different cities.
Let’s pause and think about our attitude to the people around us who are in need. Let’s ask if we are compassionate enough towards their plight. Let’s reflect, repent and give compassion a better chance in life. Like Jesus Christ, let compassion be our first response.
✍️Amara Ann Unachukwu
