Love and compassion are inseparable, and the two combined have become the contemporary world’s most popular principles. Today we are constantly told we must have compassion for others, and if we do not, it is by popular opinion, morally reprehensible. There are many people who truly believe compassion must be applied to the furthest extent in all situations regardless of circumstance. This is compassion as a principle.
For example, have you ever known a parent that loved their child so much they supported them no matter what? I’ve watched a parent be supportive of their child all throughout grade school and for every sport they were involved, but this parent continued support while the child constantly misbehaved and made terrible choices. It continued into the child’s adult years and all the way to prison. This is an extreme example, but a result of consistent loyalty and unwavering compassion nonetheless. This mother loved her son dearly, and stood by his side regardless of their disagreements, which were many. Tough love was not an option, discipline was rare and ineffective without consistency. She justified this loyalty through a firm belief in unconditional love and acceptance, and still to this day will tell you she supports her children no matter what they do. She will always find it in her heart to be compassionate.
Loving you’re children unconditionally is one thing, but loving them enough to lighten their burden and the consequences of their actions 100% of time, is harmful. Love is the highest of all virtuous, but when it’s defined appropriately and applied it does not result in harm. I’ll talk about this in a future blog.
Today compassion is generally aimed at reducing the misery that currently afflicts the world. It has become nothing more than a word that means expediency, but compassion was never meant to be applied this way. It was also never meant to dictate our response to the sufferings of others-in which case many other factors come into play. This is compassion misunderstood and inflated to the extent that it drowns out common sense and is no longer virtuous.
Compassion as a virtue is like compassion the principle in that it enables us to recognize and identify with the sufferings of others. However, the difference is, when we apply compassion as a principle it will 100% of the time dictate our response in the name of acceptance. Compassion the principle will cause us to be accepting of even the most heinous behaviors like abortion, murder, etc.
When compassion is applied as a virtue we can couple it with love, generosity, patience, and/or courage. We can also, take into consideration all other factors, including our own spiritual, physical, financial, and emotional resources, and respond wisely.
Compassion is a beautiful virtue, shining a light on the good of mankind. When we choose to respond to compassion we’re often given the opportunity to lighten a burden and lessen the pain and in turn allow love to rest in the hearts of those suffering. Compassion is a beautiful gift from our Creator, but when we inflate it above other virtues we undermine it’s power and remove what makes it virtuous.
The dew of compassion is a tear, but the do of compassion is “unclear.” – Lord Byron