Where’s the love?

The concept of true compassion seems to be lost in all the wrong places in our society. Our hearts moan for certain subgroups, while we rarely give a second thought to others. The “weak” have become objects of our intense sympathy, while the “strong” are merely an afterthought. I’m not saying it is wrong to feel compassion for those who are in need, or who have been born into bad circumstances, or those who are just down on their luck for one reason or another. I’m wondering about a shift of focus. People rarely consider the devastation the “strong/winners/champions/whatever” feel when they experience an inevitable fall from grace. I am speaking specifically about people who are held in high regard by their families, friends, employers, churches, etc etc. Not only have they fallen further than anyone ever anticipated, but rarely are they comforted by those who express compassion to “everyone else.” Why is that?

When did we, as a society, become so focused on upward movement that we forgot about the little steps that take place between the gigantic leaps? These steps are intended to move us forward, but far too often we make decisions that move us backward. The reality is that each step makes us who we are, and without failure, how can we really appreciate the sweet taste of success?

What can we do when we are called to stand by someone who is walking through a powerful storm of failure? This portion of our journey will surely come, and I wonder how many people are really prepared to stand back and answer the question, “does this failure characterize this person?”  Answer Hint: nope.

The storm of failure envelops not only the individual, but his or her loved ones. I’m not disregarding the kick to the stomach we all feel when we see a respected counterpart fail. At times, this reality is so devastating that it takes our very breath away. It leaves us staring blankly into space, wondering “what the hell happened?” “How did Ms. Perfect screw things up so royally?” It can make us question our current state of “self.” Well, it should.

Watching Mr. Perfect suffer the crushing blow of failure should not cause us to remember how great we are. On the contrary, it should remind us how fragile our reality can really be. We’re all human, and we are all constantly walking a fine line between success and disaster. Sure, the disaster in question may be a few poor decisions away, but it’s there. Lurking; creeping; waiting. It can happen to anyone. The minute you say to yourself, “Wow, I can’t believe he did that.” I hope the following thought is, “I guess it can happen to anyone.” It can.

All I can say is that it comes down to self-awareness. If you really examine yourself and take all your thoughts, desires, ambitions, and past experiences to heart, you might realize you, too, are standing on the precipice of YOUR fall from grace. So, howzabout we look at our hurting brothers and sisters, take a step toward them, and simply say, “I love you anyway.”