Sunday I asked our community why, even though we believe in living a life of compassion, we seldom actually engage in helping others in practical ways.
And the one reason on which I focused was the misunderstanding that in order to help others, you, yourself, need to be all healed up.
While I think that specific misunderstanding is common, it’s not the reason that most-often holds me back. No, what usually keeps me from helping my neighbor is the nearly exhausting list of needs represented in my own home.

In the daydream, this little community of 5 feels very manageable. But then I remember days and months and years when the needs within my own family were overwhelming.
And then I start thinking of parents, siblings, nephews, nieces, and, of course, in-laws. And, for me, this is a group of well-over 100 people. That’s a whole lot of needs.
Then, at least for me, there’s the church. Several dozen families just like mine: full of needs.
On one hand I think, “This is too much need. I don’t have room for any more. I can’t help.”
On the other hand I think, “That’s also a whole lot of support. More than most will ever know. How can I not help?”