Compassionate Action

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate action of its members.” — Coretta Scott King

I have been blessed during my life to be a part of strong communities. Although they were each different the one thing they all had in common was “the compassionat action of its members.” We all genuinely cared and looked out for each other.

My first experience with this kind of community was church. I grew up in a church where we were family. I had spiritual brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents who looked out for me.

Growing up with this type of community I thought all churches were this way. I was shocked when I realized that was not the case.

I have also experienced community in “outsider” groups. People who just don’t fit in the world can come together to form their own communities. There can be strong bonds in these groups.

I am concerned that these types of communities are disappearing. I have watched as the compassionate actions of communities have been considered bad things. I’m not talking about a controlling hierarchy, I am talking about people who genuinely care for each other.

Mrs. King was a wise woman in the company of her husband Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who spoke of “the beloved community,” Mohatma Ghandi, the Buddha, Jesus and others who throughout history have tried to show us the way. May we seek to create communities of compassionate action as we follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before us.