grace and compassion

CM and I talked about a definition for compassion on Sunday.  I don't really have a defintion as much as I have an image.  The problem that I have with the image is that I see myself doing something that is not "naturally" me.  But here it is:

When I think of compassionate women, I think of women who, every time I've encountered them, have made me feel special.  (perhpas loved?)  I think of women who make me want to talk, which I don't do naturally, but almost more important, I feel that after I've talked, they have listened.  I think of women who, when faced with some challenging news/discussion during small group, know exactly what to say, or not say, and still make the other person feel loved and accepted.  I guess what I'm saying is that I want to develop some listening skills and some wisdom skills.

I spent the day travelling yesterday and found myself sitting at the airport lost in my own little world.  I didn't put my iPod on, but I pulled out a logic puzzle to work on and ignored everyone else.  But I did have a good conversation with my co-worker in the car on the drive to this little town.  It turns out he is a "Humanistic Jew".  I'm not really sure what that means just yet, but we had a good coversation anyway.  I might even get to the point of sharing the gospel with him...will have to wait and see.  He seems very reluctant to talk about religious things.

It is intresting that he has held on to his identity has a Humanistic Jew, even though he claims that he has no real religious preference.  I think he is at the stage where he feels that as long as someone's religious practices does not hurt anyone else, then they are okay.  He even admitted that he doesn't think that any one religion is "right", or more correct, over any other. 

So in this coversation, he asked me why I was in Seminary.  I replied that I have a concern for truth - I want to know that what I believe is true, and why it is true.  I think he is still processing this one.

It is odd that my parents are on their "fall trip" and are literally about an hours drive up the road from me.  Strange to think that we crossed paths yesterday on the road.  I can't wait to see them next week.

I saw MZ, PW, SB, KL, MJ and SA at church yesterday.  They have all stopped coming to bible study and I sometimes have a hard time not being upset with them.  None of them have told me that they wanted to stop, they just stopped showing up.  I need to ask them why.  Hm.  Need to practice that listening, compassionate, grace thing.