Kindness and Compassion

October 26, 2016

By: Richard E. Alvarez

Cleveland, OH

     I've been thinking a lot about kindness and compassion lately.  First of all, I hope some of your compassion will pass along to me for not writing for the last several weeks.  My computer quit working, so I had to get a new one.  I also had surgery just yesterday here in Cleveland to fix some of the issues left over from my gunshot wound, so if I'm a little hazy or ramble on, it's probably due to the medication. Lol.

     It's a great time to be back in Cleveland, because the fall is one of the most beautiful times of year here, and our sports teams are just doing great!  The Cavs just got their championship rings awarded before they went out and crushed the Knicks last night, the Indians won the first game of the World Series, our Calder Cup Champion minor league hockey team, the Monsters, won their game, and hometown UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic, who is a very nice and personable guy, still holds his belt.  Even the Republican Convention this year went off without a hitch, despite all of the dire predictions of violence and destruction.  My hometown is going through a real renaissance that much of the nation just doesn't understand.  Our people are strong and friendly in a Mid-West sort of way.  The best part about all of this is that the kindness and compassion demonstrated by our people shows what people are capable of.  The town is electric and people are friendly toward strangers they don't even know.  The ugliness of the world seems to disappear, if even for only a few weeks.  People from all types of backgrounds talk like they've been old friends forever, and we are no longer the "mistake on the lake."

     I have also received a ton of kindness and compassion from my friends here and in Florida for the surgery I just received.  I received well-wishes and prayers from people I barely know too.  In fact, just going into surgery, nurses along the hallway and people in the waiting room wished me good luck.  My co-workers at Abe Brown Ministries texted me that they were praying for me, and I know they are.  I have never felt more welcome in a workplace in my life.  They are truly some of the kindest people I've ever met, and they restore my faith in humanity, which was pretty drained after a lifetime in law enforcement.

     It makes me wonder why we can't be like this all the time?  Why must our election cycle be so ugly?  Why do we post ugly things on social media, just because we disagree over politics?  I must admit that I am somewhat guilty of this myself.  It's o.k. to have differing views, but why must we insult those who hold their own views?  Is it that it makes us feel superior, or are we threatened in some way when people disagree with what we believe is a well-thought out point of view?  I don't believe this is the way Christ would want us to behave.  It even ties into my challenge at work in convincing business owners to hire our clients who are attempting to reenter society.  I think we have a need to de-humanize and label people, rather than view them as individuals with feelings and challenges just like us.  It's easier to look at someone with disgust or feel superior if we can call them a "libtard", an "uncompassionate conservative", or a "criminal", even when someone has paid the price assigned by society for their crimes.  This season can bring out the best in people as well as the worst.  This time of year can be a time of great kindness and compassion and a time of great ugliness and condemnation.

     We were at the beach about a month ago, and I spent most of the day snorkeling for shells and sea life of various sorts.  I brought up a starfish and showed it to some tourists' children, who had likely never seen a live one, much less held it.  I could see the joy as their eyes lit up when I told them how to hold it so the legs don't pop off.  I returned the creature to the depths after a little bit of time, but when I came back, I was stunned.  A pelican, wrapped in fishing line and embedded in hooks, had swum up to my girlfriend and some of the tourists trustingly seeking help.  Everyone jumped into action to help the bird and untangle him from the line.  I helped out, as well, and we were able to remove the line and hooks after some effort.  Unfortunately, it must have been like that for some time, because one of the legs was not fully functional and the wings were still pinned back.  The majestic bird tried to fly away and paddled as best he could with one foot, but he finally gave up and allowed the waves to carry him to the beach, where he hopped out of the surf zone.

     People all gathered around out of concern and formed a circle to prevent anyone from harassing the animal.  Someone scampered off to call for the park ranger, and they eventually responded to take it to a local seabird rescue.  While this was occurring, I couldn't help but think about how we care so much about animals and how so many of them place their trust in humans, despite the fact that we are often the cause of their misery.  It seems that we often care more, or at least show more compassion toward, animals than we do our fellow man.  Think about the number of commercials and nonprofits that help animals.  Think about the number of people who own pets and treat them like family members, but at the same time, they won't even get up early on a Thanksgiving or Christmas morning to feed their needy fellow man.  They won't send any money or volunteer their time to help the homeless or aid the victims of natural disasters and poverty, either here in America or abroad, but they have no problem supporting their corrupt politician or calling the poor "freeloaders" for receiving aid.  The same holds true for hiring ex-offenders.  We know that they will need help when they get out, but instead of offering a hand up, we place obstacles in their path with regard to employment, housing, voting, and attending college.  At the same time, we then criticize them for not becoming productive citizens again.  Is this really how God would have us behave?  Why do we care so much for some things, but we can often care less about our fellow man, unless we know them or some sports team is winning?  I, for one, will be making a concerted effort to not act that way, what about you?

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."  Matthew 25:40

God Bless and thanks for reading!

-Rich