Compassion Amid Chaos

Thank you, Boston, for showing us what is possible amid chaos. We often aspire to the spiritual ideal of being able to offer compassion in the overwhelm of injury, destruction and grief. It is a message that we hear from pulpits and sermons regardless of spiritual tradition. And often, the feeling that closely follows is, "But how do we get to that compassion when the impossibly difficult happens?"

How do we come back to kindness when sustaining the most egregious injuries or when we have been brought to our knees with horror?

Boston, you have given us so many examples of actions and responses of unconditional caring and kindness: from the many who rushed toward the explosions without any concern to their own well-being but with unconditional concern for those injured and dying, to the energy-drained marathoners who ran to hospitals energized by their hearts to give blood, to people encircling each other with care and kindness in the middle of violence, to the out-pouring of food, clothing and shelter.

Thank you, Boston, for teaching us how to be compassionate in the midst of the most difficult circumstances -- but more profoundly for showing us that, as human beings, we are able to be compassionate whether we think we know how to be or not. You have revealed through so many of your spontaneous individual and collective actions of unquestioning generosity, sharing, care and heroism that the human heart, on its own and without forethought, rises above any evil.

Thank you, Boston, for shining bright in the midst of your pain. You illuminate the way for all of us.