Challenged to Change
Written by admin January 5th, 2009 in on the wayBy Peter-Hans Kolvenback, S.J.
When the heart is touched by direct experience, the mind may be challenged to change. Personal involvement with innocent suffering, with the injustice others suffer, is the catalyst for solidarity, which then gives rise to intellectual inquiry and moral reflection.
Source: unknown
I’m not going to put in the whole piece I wrote last night to a friend, but here is a synopsis of it.
When I was between 4 1/2 and 6 1/2, I lived with three instances of innocent suffering: my dad took his rage out on my little brother, the little girl down the street had polio, and a little boy who was mentally challenged in kindergarten was “thrown under” the teacher’s desk when she would get frustrated with him. I never knew how to be an advocate for any of these children.
I have started looking for a way to serve in the church. Yesterday, a missionary who our church serves came to speak. She works with the innocent sufferers in the Ukraine. Who she cared for put in mind these three little children I had/do know.
It’s been 60 /- years, but I have finally found a way to help those children.
Me
When we are faced with innocent suffering, and we all are, our response is critical. While we may be powerless at the time to make a difference in that specific instance, our response brings change within us. Either our hearts are hardened and calloused so that we no longer see or feel the pain around us, or we are softened and yet strengthened so that in time we can make choices that do make a difference, and we become the change for good.
If only by relating positively to those we meet, treating our loved ones with intentional care, and any / everyone with justice and fairness - no matter how they treat us - we are making a difference for good. There is so much need around us so that it seems we can never do enough, but we can always do something: a loving smile for the unlovable outcast, a word or two of encouragement for the coworker who never complains, an email or phone call for the lonely widow, a hot cup of coffee on a cold day or a bag of groceries for the beggar with the sign that says “cold and hungry”, prayer without ceasing for those whose needs are beyond our ability to help….
The change within us, the opening of our hearts to the needs of others, is the beginning of transformative change around us.
I found this to be so true in my own life.
When I began to work in a clinic for homeless and mentally ill people, my entire perspective on life changed. The challenges they face each day are amazing. It became inconceiveable to me to worry about routine things like wine stains on my new tablecloth or being caught in a traffic jam. “Thank you” became my mantra as I realized how much I have been blessed. I use many social situations to share my changed perspectives with others