Compassion

The fifth and last core value of the Sisters of Charity Health System and the Foundation is compassion. I saved it for last, because compassion is at the very essence of every single thing we do as a ministry. It is an awareness and understanding of the human pain and suffering of others and the desire to do something about it.

I believe that each of us has a sense of compassion. The extent of a person’s compassion varies from individual to individual. In the Bible, God demonstrates his compassion and graciousness in scripture. For example, in Psalm 145:8 and Isaiah 54:8 reference is given to God’s everlasting kindness for each one of us. One of God’s greatest messages to us is that he is compassionate and he expects us to be compassionate as well.

Compassion is a human quality that is divinely inspired. When we see someone that is in distress and we feel their pain as if it were our own and strive to eliminate or lessen it, then this is compassion. Compassion also comes out of having a true understanding of one’s self. We can really see the needs of others more clearly when we truly understand ourselves and can apply that understanding in a compassionate and unselfish way.

I see compassion for the sick and suffering in our hospitals. I see it through our outreach ministries to help low-income fathers and uninsured children. I see it through the work in our Foundation as we reach out to help the poor and underserved of all ages and in every community.

In the New Testament, there is the parable of the Good Samaritan. He happened by a man who had been beaten by robbers. The man was hurt and was avoided by two religious men who walked on the other side of the street. Along came a common man who cared for him and tended to his wounds.

We see those suffering every day in our own lives. Seeing suffering and acting on it are two different things. I feel like we all have the capacity to be compassionate in both big ways and small ways and, to me, it really does not matter which way you choose. What matters, is recognizing the need that someone else has and acting upon that need with whatever means you have.

The best thing of all is that compassion for others is free of charge. It does not cost one single penny to act compassionately towards someone or in some situation. I have been blessed to work with compassionate Sisters and fellow servant leaders. Compassion is one of our core values and it is at the root of all of our work every day.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina