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Welcome back to the “Compassion Corner.” As promised last month, we will ponder the concept of “loving kindness.” Promoting Compassionate Communication is our overall intention, in this column, and loving kindness is the first element. Think of loving kindness as not only a pre-requisite to compassion, more as a delivery method.
This first element of compassion is integral to all other dimensions of compassion. With loving kindness as a motivational tool we can utilize the full spectrum of compassion. Loving kindness is as much an attitude as well as a way of life.
A feeling of loving kindness is usually on three levels. The first level is felt when we receive loving kindness. A good example of this is the Gospel Story of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. We might interpret having our feet washed quite literally as a good or bad thing. In fact some people would think of this as weird. In biblical times people wore sandals; therefore their feet became quite dirty. It was a servant’s duty to wash the feet of guests and family members.
To receive an act of kindness is humbling and sometimes awkward. It certainly was for the disciples. It helps when receiving an act of loving kindness to recognize the graciousness from which it is given. The good feeling when receiving loving kindness is Grace. And usually we respond with gratitude.
The second level of feeling is the giving of loving kindness. Another name for this is service work or a “servant’s heart.” Our culture has, seemingly, put this concept on the bottom shelf. Or has it? Most organizations promote service and many of their members step up to the purpose. What is it that make’s giving an act of kindness?
The third level of feeling in regards to loving kindness is humbleness or if you prefer, humility. What Jesus demonstrated to the disciples was the “self forgetting” of servant-hood and the benefits thereof. Of course, if the “benefits” are our motivation then the kindness gets lost in translation. If giving in the form of service work is offered with an attitude of gratitude then a deeper level of spiritual connection takes place (i.e. humility).