Compassion

A friend of mine belongs to an online community of people with a common goal and interest. In the process of sharing their ups and downs in reaching this goal, a woman mentioned in her online journal that she was currently without employment. Due to a lack of work and therefore money, her electrical service was soon to be terminated if she did not pay her bill. With three young children, food had to have priority over electricity.

My friend, upon reading of this woman's plight, took a plunge into action based on compassion and empathy, for she herself had been in similar circumstances in her life.
She, being of very modest income herself with the usual expenses concomitant with aging, momentarily asked herself "what if the woman is unable to pay me back, or even worse, what if this is a scam of some sort?". But being an ethical and basically trusting person, she decided to take the chance because it would bring more happiness to herself to help another person by alleviating some of this woman's suffering. What the woman did or did not do was out of the control of my friend, so she told me. She would take positive action and the result was no longer up to her.

As my friend discussed the matter with the woman online to get her address to send a check for the electrical bill, the woman at first protested that she could not take assistance. My friend suggested she think about it and let her know for the offer was there. And so the next day, they communicated and it was decided my friend would mail the woman a check and when the woman found a job, repayment would be forthcoming.

Imagine, if you will, the check on its way to this woman via the U. S. mail. We all know how painfully slow the postal service can be, especially when our anticipation of a certain item is very high. And so it was in this case.

However, while the check was on its way to the recipient, the receiver of another's trust and compassion, received offers for two part time jobs. The woman happily corresponded her good news online to my friend. Furthermore she replied that the joy she had received through the bond of friendship, though writing void on the check and being able to return it brought joy as well, was of greater value than anything to be deposited in a bank.

Any CPA or governmental equivalent could do the figures. Multiply this one act of human compassion times the approximately six billion human beings on this planet Earth and what a better quality of life everyone, including the few wealthy, would have. The positive side of the balance sheet of human happiness would pay the debt of human suffering.

I am very fortunate to have this person as my friend and, as it so happens, as my sister as well. Do a compassionate act toward someone today. Like my sister told me, it makes you feel so happy. And isn't happiness what we all want more of anyway?

Namaste!