Finding the Balance with Compassion

In a recent article, Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was quoted as saying "let your heart break." She was addressing that awkward feeling of paralyzing guilt when you look at the troubles of others and compare it with your own life.

It is very easy to find bad news. There is no difficulty in finding people who need help. Often times, we can become overwhelmed by the heart breaks and tragedy that are a part of the fallen world in which we live. The way many people deal with this is to compartmentalize. We find this often as a non-profit. There are communication opportunities available for businesses that are not available for us. People are hesitant to "mix" happy, fun events with awareness of real problems. "That just brings everybody down...right?" We feel guilty enjoying the blessings of our life when faced with the reality that there are people who don't have those blessings. However, we can't just ignore very real needs in our community.

So, what is the answer?

The answer is to let your heart break. Feel compassion. This is healthy! It's okay to want to do something. Just as it is okay not to take on the weight of doing everything. No one can do everything, not even Melinda and Bill Gates. But we can all do something.

Choose a passion. Don't let guilt be the motivating factor in any decision making process. Let me repeat that: don't let guilt be the motivating factor in any decision making process. Be wise in how and where and why you offer help. Sometimes, our impulsive gestures, based on fleeting feelings of guilt, actually cause more harm than help. It's okay to think about things.

My hope is that when you support a non-profit, like the City Rescue Mission, you truly feel you are part of a team, working toward something you believe in. We encourage you, if you'd like to know more about the Mission and how we're meeting needs in our community, come for a visit! On the first Thursday of every month, we have a director's luncheon. You'll have the opportunity to talk with Mission staff, visit our facility, and hear from guests how supporters of the Mission have made a difference in their lives.

http://www.bearescuer.com/lunch.htm