Veneered Compassion
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
By now, most of you realize that I am always listening for phrases or ideas prompted by the Holy Spirit that will enrich our lives. I listened to a pod-cast and veneered compassion was mentioned. I thought it strange, but I have not been able to let go of this.
Wood veneer consists of thin slices of natural wood and offers a cost-effective, sustainable, and stable alternative to solid wood.
We all know what compassion means, right? The full meaning of compassion is a deep awareness and sorrow for another's suffering, combined with a strong desire and motivation to take action to relieve that suffering, making it empathy in action, not just feeling (Google).
So, what could veneered compassion possibly mean? Perhaps we have put a thin coating on the compassion we feel toward others. That way it doesn’t hurt us quite so much. Or maybe we are not sure that our faith will hold up in certain situations, therefore we feel the need to do something to make it stronger.
Is our compassion real? Colossians 3:12 (ESV) tells us, Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. We are called to have concerned hearts and not just feelings about someone else’s situation.
Compassion does not mean fixing everyone’s problems nor does it mean feeling sorry for others. This is where the veneered compassion comes to the checkout counter. When we don’t know how to handle things, we cover up our true emotions. Do we want to appear stronger than we are or is it that we really don’t know what to do?
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind (1 Peter 3:8, ESV).
Is our true concern just under that top, thin layer? What would happen if we peeled it back? What would true compassion look like? Would others feel and see something new in us?
Loving Lord, thank You for the compassion You show to us, Your patience, and forgiveness. Please keep us humble and give us insight and strength to be real with others in need. AMEN.