Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life Book

While this book hasn't influenced my day-to-day thinking as much as some other Nouwen books, I think this says more about my current level of distraction than it does the quality of the observations and insights found in Compassion, though it's possible that Nouwen's co-authorship with two other authors on this one slightly reduces the tone of intimacy most of his books offer.

Nonetheless, when I look back at my underlinings and annotations, I see that my reading experience exemplifies all my Nouwen experiences in several ways: clearly stated ideas, challenges to reflect upon, and potentially life-changing sentences throughout. If I were to write down just one of these sentences and stick it in my pocket for a day or a week or a year, I'm certain I would find my perspective being brought back to the places where joy and gratitude reside. Alright, I'll try it.

Wow, I'd better be careful. Some of these things require a level of commitment and change that is no joke. But okay, I've chosen a couple: "Being compassionate would require giving up dividing lines and relinquishing differences and distinctions." I had to search as far as page 19 to find this one. It's a good reminder that each person has full and equal value in the light of love.

Another good question, which I will not put in my pocket, is a few pages later: "Are we really servants when we can become masters again once we think we have done our part or made our contribution?"

But the second quote I'll put in my pocket is something that is a fairly consistent challenge for me, which has to do with feeling there's rarely enough time in each day, resulting in impatience and annoyance: "Essentially, impatience is experiencing the moment as empty, useless, meaningless. It is wanting to escape from the here and now as soon as possible." Holding this quote closely should remind me to continually return fully to the present moment.

The central idea of Compassion is that God, through Jesus, has expressed intent to be with humanity in our suffering and weakness. As believers and followers, our calling is to seek a similar presence with those whom we come into contact, resulting in "displacement" from our solitary subjectivity to a place of empathy and beyond. Prayer is the tool that heightens our awareness of such reality, and action is the discipline that results from our true faith in this reality.