Posts Tagged: Michael Beatty
“Contagious Compassion”
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
I read a wonderful transcript yesterday on the NPR website. It was a story about anger, and how contagious it is. It was also a story about contagious compassion. (You can read and/or listen to the story at https://wysu.org/content/npr/anger-can-be-contagious-heres-how-stop-spread, accessed 02-26-2019.)
It seems that a gentleman by the name of Michael Beatty was angry with a comedian/actor named Patton Oswalt. It seems that Oswalt had tweeted something negative about President Trump. So, Beatty sent two harsh tweets to and about Oswalt.
Oswalt joked back with Beatty, but Oswalt did something else: He scrolled through Beatty’s twitter feed. Oswalt found out that Beatty had some heavy-duty medical bills. So, Oswalt sent a check for $2,000 to Beatty’s GoFundMe campaign, and encouraged his followers to do the same.
It isn’t just that people sent money or encouraging notes to Beatty. This whole incident caused him to take a hard look at himself. That was good and helpful. But something else happened as well. Beatty says that is becoming a better, less angry person.
I think that I became a slightly better person, just by reading the transcript. Like Mr. Beatty, I sometimes am a very angry person. Like Mr. Beatty, I frequently smart off. Like Mr. Beatty, I am touched and humbled and changed by the generosity of others.
The Bible speaks of overcoming evil with good. It speaks of doing good, even to those who have done us evil. It says that we are to bless those who curse us. You can google it to find out the references. I assure you, these things really are in the Bible.
But the question that often feels like a splinter in my mind is this: Do I in fact practice these virtues? Yes, I know that these things are in the Bible, but are they in me? Am I overcoming evil with good? Do I do good to others, no matter what? Do I bless even those who curse me?
And the answer is, yes, I do . . . sometimes. Sometimes needs to become more often than not. Indeed, I hope that at some point, in time or in eternity, contagious compassion will consume me. Only when it does will I be truly alive and truly myself.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
Recent Comments