So I've been reading this book called Wrecked by Jeff Goins. It's fantastic. (Hint: This is the part in the blog where you close your computer, head to your nearest library, bookstore, or amazon.com, and order it for yourself).
I'm not finished with it yet, but I've already learned a lot!! One of the things that has stuck out to me is the idea of compassion. Compassion literally means "to enter into suffering with." Compassion is not an easy thing to do. In fact, being compassionate should actually make us feel worse. Yes, you read that right. When we show compassion to people in need, we should be wrecked. We should wish there was something more we could do besides handing out a hot meal, offering someone a ride, or making a few visits. It is so much more than meeting a temporary need. Now don't get me wrong, meeting temporary needs is essential. Everyone has immediate needs that ordinary people can meet. BUT the concept of compassion means that you attempt to meet the temporary need AND ALSO look beyond to the deeper and longer-lasting hurts of a person. You take on the burden of that deeper need and try to find a solution for it, even if that means making big sacrifices yourself.
All this to say, getting wrecked is exactly what we need to do. Getting wrecked and being compassionate is how we see the needs of God's people and then are motivated to serve them wholeheartedly and share Christ's love "to the least of these."
Go get yourself Wrecked and then go get yourself wrecked.
