Compassion was a word a couple of my friends and I talked about yesterday and today. The empathy or caring for another and their suffering and wanting to help them relieve what they’re going through. Part of practicing these principles in all of our affairs. Living the spiritual life. In many cases, the Twelfth Step.
I know I was given the example of this by my sponsor and a lot of those old timers I knew back then, when I came in. They cared for others, even when they had to deal with the hostility of others. It was there.
I can remember my sponsor telling me that he probably would have done the same thing I did, when I went beyond an individuals antagonism on a Twelfth Step call. Fortunately the man’s relative stepped in between us and I did leave. But my sponsor, when telling me to learn to back off, said he might just have done the same as I did. I really felt sorry for the man and wanted to help. I learned later it was part of compassion. Not a matter of wisdom in that case, but nevertheless it was the thought.
I was still a fairly newcomer, when I did what I did. I learned from my sponsor and others not to overstep the bounds, which I had done. But I also learned in spite of that that we have to have compassion for others. If nothing else caring what happens.
Up to that point I never even knew I cared about anyone else. I know I wasn’t aware of caring, when I walked through these doors. Just the opposite in many cases. It was only after experiencing the caring of others that I began to learn how to care. I was given so much help that I couldn’t ignore what was going on. I think the hardest part was learning to become not just open minded, but developing an open heart. And I learned that from the example of others. First their words and then what they did.
Anyway, just listening to others stirred up the thoughts I began to have about this subject. I know it’s really part of being sober and living a sober life. It all came about as the result of practicing this program. Going to meetings and listening to others in sobriety. And, like I said, learning from my sponsor and others. Watching their examples.
Just knowing that there are others, who are like this, gives me gratitude. I do know it comes from a dependence on my Higher Power. That’s where the courage to change the things I can comes from. I need to remember that and hope that I can be of help when it’s needed. Part of the Eleventh Step phasing into the Twelfth.