I have always been an advocate for expressing a compassionate attitude towards every area of our lives and this includes our relationships with people, also in administering justice or even in our criticism of people. I know that it is difficult to have or show compassion particularly when we see the evil and heinous acts committed by people, the injustice in the world and also the seemingly callous acts of people who have been put into position of leadership to serve and be custodians for the common good of the people.
Having compassion involves understanding and displaying empathy and love in our actions. It also involves going past ones basic inclination to retaliate, be bitter and even at times, it can go against our expressing what we believe is ‘fair’ in terms of how we believe the other party rightly deserves the payback emitted to them. The Bible shows some expressions of this compassion in the many actions of Jesus like when he wept after being told of Lazarus’s death, not because he couldn’t do anything but because he understood how Lazarus sisters were feeling at that time, he still went ahead and resurrected Lazarus. Also, when the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus by the Pharisees, yes, this act was considered wrong even in the teachings of Christ, he did not condemn her rather sought the compassion of the Pharisees even when he asked which of them had not sinned to cast the first stone, he also displayed compassion by not condemning but rather told her to go and sin no more.
Am I advocating that we should allow compassion to override our sense of judgement, fairness or even in corrections? Not a mile, As a Human Resource Management Professional, I have been faced with several situations whereby we have to make decisions that seem callous to fellow colleagues or even to the outside world, but the way and manner we do this must reflect compassion through ensuring that all actions are done in accordance to set down rules having ensured that we acknowledged the emotional aspect of human beings in our decisions. What it basically means is showing ‘a human face’ as we call it in all our decisions and resulting actions.
I have learnt to acknowledge that as human beings we may not be able to decipher how we can act when placed in certain conditions or situations. You may not know how you will act when you are in a position of absolute power and influence, or you are in a position of absolute lack or need and you are faced with temptations!
When you are about to criticize, judge or condemn someone else, always bear in mind that it could be you or another close acquaintance in that particular circumstance or situation. I have learnt to acknowledge that as human beings we may not be able to decipher how we can act when placed in certain conditions or situations. You may not know how you will act when you are in a position of absolute power and influence, or you are in a position of absolute lack or need and you are faced with temptations! Even Peter as close as he was to Jesus, denied him. Jesus, when he was being crucified, even with the fore knowledge of his mission cried out to God that if it was his will to remove this cup from him. How much more for us?
Lets learn to empathize in situations and not just sit and shout crucify! crucify! or criticize. Lets be filled with compassion and this will help us to identify and implement solutions that will benefit both the affected person, groups and ourselves. A decision taken in anger, bitterness and without compassion does not always turn out well for the good of all.
I see you all!
