By Henrita Frost, SSND
For several days I have been reflecting on writing once again about the challenge of a Revolution of Compassion. Contemplating compassion consumes my thoughts: self- compassion and the call to companion others with compassion. I asked myself: What can I write that I haven’t written? Then I began to hear one of my favorite songs within me, ”Goodbye, Mr. Chips”.
In the morning of my life I shall look to the sunrise. . .
And the blessing I shall ask is that God will grant me,
To be brave and strong and true,
And to fill the world with love my whole life through.
Aware of the constant presence of chaos and violence in our world, I began to expound on all that I would like to fill the world with: compassion, wisdom, mercy and so many more blessings.
Then the celebration of July 4th, our Independence Day, invaded my consciousness. As I watched the celebrations in Washington and New York, it brought back the memory that we are an immigrant people who took the land from the indigenous people, that became our home. It seems that in our nation, the unwillingness to share this land with our sister and brother immigrants is prevalent. How heartbreaking!
Yet the celebration of music and fireworks was touching. Seeing families together touched me and saddened me at the same time, for we are keeping families apart. I hoped that the fireworks would pour blessings on us and the world, and that we would be a nation brave and strong and true, and fill the world with love and compassion.
A touching moment was the singing of “God Bless America” on the hundredth anniversary of the song. May we know a hundred years of blessings and know our obligation to be a blessing to the world. May we work together to free us from the chaos and violence that blocks our ability to be a blessing to our nation and the planet.
Time is of the essence for the Revolution of Love and Compassion to permeate our planet; each of us doing what we can, sharing the energy for it to happen. Each evening as the sun goes down, perhaps we can ask ourselves, “Was I brave and strong and true?” Did I fill the world with love and compassion today?
“Treat others and the planet as you would like to be treated”
Visit: www.charterforcompassion.org
