Leaving aside the Golden Rule, in our “outta my way, I’m getting mine” weekday lives we seem to be ever quicker at categorizing and dismissing others we don’t instantly understand.  It certainly is harder on a body trying not to jump to conclusions.

It’s too easy to fall into the sort of mental dyspepsia so widespread on (hate-) talk radio and TV:  spit out an opinion first, think later.  Forget walking a mile in someone’s shoes, most of us haven’t tried another style of footwear in years.

By “compassion,” we’re really talking about understanding:  why do others do as they do, and is there anything about them we can incorporate to better our lives.  Show the simple respect of first assuming they have a reason for how they are; when you truly have evidence to make a judgment, then by all means (just remember your house is closer to glass than you think).

The dirty little secret here–it takes real strength.  If you’re truly secure in what you believe, then how can you be hurt by being open to another of God’s creatures?  Jesus was always hanging out with the “great unwashed,” not being a yes-man to the hoi polloi.  (Just between you and me–real people are far more interesting, anyway.)