In the early days of GSM we talked a lot about the differences between sympathy and compassion. Some would argue it's just semantics... and I can see their point. I would probably lose that debate... I'm not an English major. But I believe there is a fundamental difference in how these words are lived out... there's more here than Webster's telling us.
In my humble opinion...
Sympathy, is an automatic emotional response to awareness. Compassion, is a conscious and deliberate physical response... or action. You could look at it this way. Sympathy is the door to compassion. It compels us to do something. It urges us to respond. The problem is as long as we stand outside the door, we haven't made a difference or changed anything.
Sympathy is easy. We feel good about feeling bad. It helps us ease our conscience.
Compassion on the other hand requires more of us than lip service and pity.
So, why do we settle so often for being merely sympathetic and not compassionate? I'm just as guilty as anyone. By just looking at my own life I would say there are three main road blocks to living a consistently compassionate life.
1.) Fear (which is usually rooted in pride)
I think the hardest part is just making a decision to step out... over coming our fear. It's not as hard as we sometimes make it out to be. You don't have to start a non-profit to be a compassionate person. It could be as simple as giving someone a hug, a helping hand, or introducing yourself to the "loser" at school that no one wants to be associated with. It's really that simple.
2.) I don't feel capable of making a difference, or I'm not sure how to respond
All compassionate acts make a difference. Every action has a reaction... you just might not see it. And once again, you don't have to do anything incredible. For example... some new friends of ours Yvette and Erica (who are AWESOME!) raised almost $1,000 in one night by going to the movies... a movie called Call and Response... they responded before they even saw it! Read about it for yourself.. http://dollybellamy.blogspot.com/
3.) I just don't care enough
We need to get over ourselves. I believe a life of compassion will not only make the world a better place, it will bring us joy and a life with little regret. I don't know about you, but the things I regret most in life are the times I could have made a difference and decided not to.
Turning sympathy into compassion is a CHOICE... and it's a choice that only YOU can make.
Compassion=Action,
-Travis
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Passion & Purpose
It's interesting how the most mundane task can set your soul on fire... when it's for a purpose.
David and I are in the back of the fellowship hall finishing off some cake, while everyone in the rest of the room is watching our first short documentary, Victor's Story. We're both very tired and hungry. I just want to eat something bigger than a little piece of cake and go back to bed, but I can't... so I try and focus on the video.
I've seen it a million times. Nothing new. I could close my eyes and know what scene it is just from the music. And ah! ...here it comes... my horrible overdub. I mutter my usual excuse, that we recorded it at 3am and shake my head.
As the video progresses little Victor comes into the story and my eyes start to water. I realize how long it's been since I last watched the video. I can't help but smile as I reflect on that incredible day when Victor was rescued off the street and given a new life... a life full of love, hope and opportunity.
The video ends and I'm called up front to speak.
***
Since then I haven't been able to stop thinking about purpose and passion and the incredible things we can accomplish when our passions find purpose. The more I think about my purpose, the more passionate I get! The more passionate I get, the more I want to fulfill my purpose!
I believe God has given all of us the same ULTIMATE purpose in life... to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves... but HE didn't give all of us the same passions.
Every person on earth has passions. The question is, have those passions found their purpose?
These are two of the greatest forces at work in my life. They're why sometimes, the most mundane task can set my soul on fire!
Compassion=Action,
-Travis
****
David and I are in the back of the fellowship hall finishing off some cake, while everyone in the rest of the room is watching our first short documentary, Victor's Story. We're both very tired and hungry. I just want to eat something bigger than a little piece of cake and go back to bed, but I can't... so I try and focus on the video.
I've seen it a million times. Nothing new. I could close my eyes and know what scene it is just from the music. And ah! ...here it comes... my horrible overdub. I mutter my usual excuse, that we recorded it at 3am and shake my head.
As the video progresses little Victor comes into the story and my eyes start to water. I realize how long it's been since I last watched the video. I can't help but smile as I reflect on that incredible day when Victor was rescued off the street and given a new life... a life full of love, hope and opportunity.
The video ends and I'm called up front to speak.
***
Since then I haven't been able to stop thinking about purpose and passion and the incredible things we can accomplish when our passions find purpose. The more I think about my purpose, the more passionate I get! The more passionate I get, the more I want to fulfill my purpose!
I believe God has given all of us the same ULTIMATE purpose in life... to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves... but HE didn't give all of us the same passions.
Every person on earth has passions. The question is, have those passions found their purpose?
These are two of the greatest forces at work in my life. They're why sometimes, the most mundane task can set my soul on fire!
Compassion=Action,
-Travis
This Past Sunday
We had the honor and privilege of being able to set up our stuff and share at Emmanuel Fellowship (Brady's home church) and Every Nation Seattle this past Sunday. Here are a few photos...
Taking over the world one email at a time!
Me... and a nice lady in a blue shirt.
David the salesman... changing the world one necklace at a time!
Driving to a night service at Every Nation Seattle.
And that's how we do it!
Compassion=Action
-Travis
Taking over the world one email at a time!
Me... and a nice lady in a blue shirt.
David the salesman... changing the world one necklace at a time!
Driving to a night service at Every Nation Seattle.
And that's how we do it!
Compassion=Action
-Travis
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Some Thoughts
Seattle's been great so far! This pic doesn't do it justice, but the view from where we are staying is amazing...
So anyway...enough about the inspiring view...oh, and fyi this blog will be me just typing some thoughts as i think them with very little editing, so here goes:
Stories are great. They inspire me to do what i do--NO-- they inspire me to do more than what i think i can do. They push me to think outside of myself--out of my little world around me. They encourage me to be a better person; to be more than i am now.
Isn't that what we all want anyway? To be better today than we were yesterday? To be better tomorrow than we were today? Yeah, i think...i think that's what i want. but how?
how do we "become" better people? I think CS Lewis said the answer could be found in mere imitation...ie, a girl learns to become a woman by imitating her mother. An apprentice becomes master by imitating the master...etc.
this doesn't mean that you put up a front and act holy in front of certain people...it means that if you what to make a difference in your community, you imitate the people who are out there doing stuff--those getting their hands dirty. You get out from behind the TV and out on the streets. You get into your local after school program to volunteer, or go to a soup kitchen and serve meals. You get on the internet and do some research on good organizations to get involved with. Don't just give your money... be apart of what they're doing...invest in the future.
As you act you actually become a better person. You will start thinking different thoughts. Your dreams and passions will begin to change. The whole world starts to open up to you and life will look totally different. Your conversations will change. Your wants will change. You will realize things you thought you needed were really just wants...life will change...you will become different--BETTER!
ok, so after writing all of this...i kinda feel like the inspirational speakers that i like to make fun of...so i'll wrap this up...basically, it's really not that hard to make a difference.
It just requires a little action. Trust me, if a selfish and disorganized guy like me can do it, you can too.
So anyway...enough about the inspiring view...oh, and fyi this blog will be me just typing some thoughts as i think them with very little editing, so here goes:
Stories are great. They inspire me to do what i do--NO-- they inspire me to do more than what i think i can do. They push me to think outside of myself--out of my little world around me. They encourage me to be a better person; to be more than i am now.
Isn't that what we all want anyway? To be better today than we were yesterday? To be better tomorrow than we were today? Yeah, i think...i think that's what i want. but how?
how do we "become" better people? I think CS Lewis said the answer could be found in mere imitation...ie, a girl learns to become a woman by imitating her mother. An apprentice becomes master by imitating the master...etc.
this doesn't mean that you put up a front and act holy in front of certain people...it means that if you what to make a difference in your community, you imitate the people who are out there doing stuff--those getting their hands dirty. You get out from behind the TV and out on the streets. You get into your local after school program to volunteer, or go to a soup kitchen and serve meals. You get on the internet and do some research on good organizations to get involved with. Don't just give your money... be apart of what they're doing...invest in the future.
As you act you actually become a better person. You will start thinking different thoughts. Your dreams and passions will begin to change. The whole world starts to open up to you and life will look totally different. Your conversations will change. Your wants will change. You will realize things you thought you needed were really just wants...life will change...you will become different--BETTER!
ok, so after writing all of this...i kinda feel like the inspirational speakers that i like to make fun of...so i'll wrap this up...basically, it's really not that hard to make a difference.
It just requires a little action. Trust me, if a selfish and disorganized guy like me can do it, you can too.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Next Four Months
David and I have been on the road for almost two weeks now. It's been pretty great thus far and we're just getting started. Los Angeles and San Diego are in the books. Now we're in Seattle. Here's the rest of the itinerary...
Portland, OR
Nashville, TN (home for 2 days)
Biloxi, MS
Baton Rouge, LA
Mobile, AL
Nashville, TN (home for 6 days... almost a week!)
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
Biloxi, MS
November 30th, I fly out of New Orleans, David (who goes to Flordia instead of Dallas) flies out of Tampa, and our buddy Cooper flies out of Nashville.... we'll meet up in Amsterdam. Then the next two months...
Nairobi, Kenya
Mombasa, Kenya
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Zanzabar, Tanzania
Kyanga, Tanzania
Kigali, Rwanda
Kaihura, Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
Jinja, Uganda
Kasese, Uganda
Entebbe, Uganda
Yep, that's the next four months. I'm going to try my best to blog a lot, so check in often... it should be pretty interesting!
Compassion=Action,
-Travis
Portland, OR
Nashville, TN (home for 2 days)
Biloxi, MS
Baton Rouge, LA
Mobile, AL
Nashville, TN (home for 6 days... almost a week!)
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
Biloxi, MS
November 30th, I fly out of New Orleans, David (who goes to Flordia instead of Dallas) flies out of Tampa, and our buddy Cooper flies out of Nashville.... we'll meet up in Amsterdam. Then the next two months...
Nairobi, Kenya
Mombasa, Kenya
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Zanzabar, Tanzania
Kyanga, Tanzania
Kigali, Rwanda
Kaihura, Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
Jinja, Uganda
Kasese, Uganda
Entebbe, Uganda
Yep, that's the next four months. I'm going to try my best to blog a lot, so check in often... it should be pretty interesting!
Compassion=Action,
-Travis
Just arrived in Seattle
We arrived in Seattle last night...we're staying with some friends who have a studio apt downtown...the view of the city from their place is AMAZING!
The last few weeks have been great! Travis and I were in LA and San Diego speaking at church groups to inspire a movement, setting up house parties for 2nd Ave Trade, and meeting with potential donors about funding Know.Think.Act. It's been incredibly exciting to meet new people who share our passions.
I can say with no reservations that i really love what i do...and the people that i share my life with.
~peace
david
The last few weeks have been great! Travis and I were in LA and San Diego speaking at church groups to inspire a movement, setting up house parties for 2nd Ave Trade, and meeting with potential donors about funding Know.Think.Act. It's been incredibly exciting to meet new people who share our passions.
I can say with no reservations that i really love what i do...and the people that i share my life with.
~peace
david
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