Compassion in action

In the past weeks something has really been bugging me; it seems that the more people have resources or the more influential they are, the less willing they are to help. Yes, many people have given me their condolences or good advice: "try not to stay alone too much, we are here for you" but the moment these beautiful words have left their mouth they are already forgotten. Let alone if you actually have a real problem that you need real help with, people run like you've just been hit with a sudden case of the Black Death. Compassion, it seems to me, too often reaches no deeper than our lips.

Only those, who have very little or nothing themselves, are willing to give. This real compassion is rare but it exists. I have seen it in action. A member of my family has had some health issues and I've watched, green with envy, how his friends have stepped up for him, helping with little practical things when us - the family - are too far to run the errands for him while he is getting better.

I've seen near strangers holding back tears of compassion, offering whatever help they can give to me, while people I hoped would stand by me were too busy buying concert tickets or going to Zumba (figuratively speaking of course, I'm not against anyone's Zumba lessons).

I've seen friends and strangers pulling together to help an entire family. I was lucky enough to be one of the people who helped, even if in a very small way, an entire family in need. I wasn't able to do anything huge. Maybe the most valuable thing I gave was my time and attention, but at the end of the day, people who I had only just met, helped me in return in a way that left me thinking: who ended up helping who here?

Why is it so hard to help a friend in need? Why, when someone has a problem and needs real help, those who would have the means to do something about it, turn their back? Is it that those who have never needed help don't understand the need to help anyone else? God protect me from becoming so blind to other people's needs.