Bonding Through Compassion

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/pDqhdFjkRNY

Yesod of Tiferet

Hi everyone, Jordan Drayer, the savvy millennial voice actress whose compassion sometimes creates bonds. Today is two weeks and six days of the Omer. If you want to know more about the Omer and how it works, check out the post on Chesed of Chesed. And we can bond right now by you liking and sharing this video!

Chabad.org says, "For compassion to be fully realized, it needs bonding." The mutual event needs to not just be a single event but lead to something more long-term. And this doesn't have to mean you become friends with every person you do something nice for.

There was a soldier who spoke at my college graduation, and his story speaks to this perfectly. He talked about being wounded so bad in Vietnam that everyone told him, as soon as he got back to the base, they'd amputate his leg.

A nurse on the medflight told him, if you follow these instructions, you can keep your leg. He got to the base, they wanted to amputate, and he told them what the nurse had said, and though it meant a longer recovery, he still has his leg today. He never learned her name or saw her again, but her compassionate act of sharing critical information impacted his life forever.

I believe we can be bonded to others even when not near them. I moved a lot as a kid, and I continue to make friends around the world through my teaching and traveling. I may not talk to them every day, but I believe we have bonds. And there's the saying, "People don't remember what you say, but they remember what you do or how you make them feel." This is another reminder to always be nice to others.

I keep using this example but it works - a simple nice act like holding open a door can sometimes make a big impact on someone having a rough time. You don't have to go into it saying, "I'm gonna change someone's life by holding open this door!" No, just be kind and friendly. Being and doing.

Today's exercise is to ensure that something eternal is built as a result of your compassion. But I don't think that's something we can control. No one knows what will be impactful on another, what simple words or actions. So the way to ensure something eternal comes out of your action is just to be nice and do things with intention. Don't just get caught holding a door but plan to hold a door. Choose a charity you want to give to. Choose a person you want to call or a neighbor you want to give a cake to. Good luck and see you tomorrow.