Is Compassion Alive?

Terri Weissinger probably never signed up for eight days in the San Francisco airport.  Hoping to start a new life in Idaho, she had booked a one-way ticket and showed up at the airport with 30 dollars to her name.  No one ever told her about baggage fees and USAir wanted to charge her $60 for her bags.  Offering to leave a bag behind as collateral was her offer, but that violates security provisions.  Having missed her flight, she now faced not only the baggage fees, but a $150 change fee.  And, USAir would have to rebook the flight at the current prices which would put it over $1,000.  See the story below.

Terri could not find any friends or relatives who could or would put up the $210 to cover her trip.  So she waited, and waited, and waited.  Eight full days holed up an airport.  A real-life version of Tom Hanks character in “The Terminal”.  Finally, parishioners at the Airport Church of Christ gave her the money and she was on her way. 

I remember a similar situation that Deb and I saw when leaving the Cleveland airport.  A mentally challenged man was trying to get a bus from the airport and was obviously distressed.  He said he was out of money.  We walked him near where the bus was about to leave and gave him the money he needed.  The shear joy on his face told us there was no way this was a faked situation.  But you now what – it doesn’t matter.  Are we so cynical that we would not be willing to take a risk to help someone?  I find myself in that state.  I doubt people, I question their motives.  I am so callous.  God help me find baby skin that reflects who I am as a believer in Christ. 

Back around September 11, it was said that we were a more compassionate culture.  People started going around helping each other.  It has taken 10 years for us to come back to a compassionate-less culture.  And when compassion occurs, it is so striking.  Our church has an annual custom where we hand out “You’ve Been Gifted” cards.  These cards are used by our church people to shell out random acts of kindness to perfect strangers.  The stories we here are amazing.  God uses compassionate people to make a difference.  The man with leprosy came to Jesus and said “If you are willing, you can make me clean”.  Jesus response “I am willing – be cleansed” (Luke 5:13)  Are we willing to say “I am willing”?