I know that people are motivated by different things, but how can one not be motivated by someone caring about them? I'm not at all motivated by fear or competition, although some people may be. Even if you're motivated by those things, I still have to believe that compassion motivates you also.
It makes sense that compassion is the ultimate "pay it forward" motivation that can touch each of our lives, both individually and in groups and even in the world sense. I might be opinionated about religion or politics or something else, but if you show compassion to me regardless of those beliefs, then I am touched and want to do the same for others, even those different from me.
So, let's try and be compassionate with each other. I think Jesus would like this, since he told the original story about compassion for those different from us.
“There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
“A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’
“What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”
“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” (Luke 10: 30-17 The Message)
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