Where is the Love? Tis the Season for Fierce Kindness and Compassion
Most days, my heart hurts.
Cruelty seems to be the point these days
In his Thanksgiving message, President Trump called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ”retarded.” In a recent trip to my state, Pennsylvania, Trump in his message that was supposed to address affordability, instead, (no shocker) he ranted and insulted immigrants from Somalia and other African and Muslim countries with horribly racist comments. He repeatedly attacked Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, one of his favorite targets.
Meanwhile, ICE continues its raids throughout United States using physical abuse and excessive force to detain people, often mistakenly (or not) detaining US citizens into inhumane detention conditions. US citizen and Army veteran George Retes was held for three days without access to lawyers or family. He experienced being pepper sprayed with agents failing to verify his veteran status and citizenship.
Recently, a 22 year-old mother was detained by ICE in October 2025, only days after an emergency C-section while her newborn remained hospitalized in the NICU.
Where is our humanity? Questions for consideration:
What happens in a society when groups of people are seen as less than human and how is this reflected in policy and law?
What happens when situations like those above occur repeatedly (hint-look to history)?
What does it do to the psyche of those targeted?
What does it do to the psyche of the oppressor?
What does it do to the psyche of the rest of us? Are we avoidant? Do we become disruptors? Turn away? Take risks? Play it safe?
What is the story you tell yourself about these times?
How are we showing up/how will we show up in these times?
In what way is it possible for you/me/us to mitigate the great harms of these times?
What are you willing to do?
What are you preparing to do?
If you are accustomed to relative ease in navigating in your environment, are you willing to step out of your comfort zone?
‘tis the season to step into the fullness of our humanity
Christians around the world acknowledge the season of Advent as a time of preparation. In the world of those who are comfortable, this can primarily look like decorating, baking, shopping, and planning for the holiday season.
Spiritually this is a powerful time to revisit the biblical prophets that spoke about liberating the poor, oppressed and marginalized. Mary, the mother of Jesus (who gave her consent to the angel who spoke to her being chosen by God ), also spoke revolution in the form of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). This is a hard-core celebration of God lifting up the lowly, scattering the proud and offering a radical vision of justice and equity. Bold and fierce!
What You Do To the Least of These-Jesus, from Matthew 25.
There is a practice that comes from the contemplative Christian tradition that asks us to see Jesus in the face of all we meet, especially those that are marginalized and oppressed. This is not pity, a fear based emotion that ranks and separates us from others but rather, the heart and soul of compassion. Compassion Involves turning towards the suffering of another being rather than away from that being and seeing the fullness of that being’s humanity, even in the midst of their suffering.
Ms Rachel, A YouTube children’s music educator, also known for her advocacy for the children of Gaza, shares she sees children anywhere in the world, as all of our children. She also identifies as a follower of Jesus and takes these teachings and practices to heart and applies them in this world that needs 10 million more of her to show up for the children of the world facing famine, war and other forms of oppression.
Ms. Rachel is a genuine example of this teaching of Jesus from Matthew 25. Personally, I pay a lot of attention to her because her caring and compassion is contagious! The human instinct for caring is compelling and heartwarming. We see that often during this time of the year directed towards families and children in need.
Leaning into the impulse for caring rather than survival of the fittest heals our own hearts and heals our communities. The invitation always exists for us to expand and open our hearts towards each other. This is what true strength looks like, vulnerability, compassion, and connection rather than prejudice reinforced by brute force.
so this season, even in the face of cruelty and oppression, consider what it might look like for you to embody the heart of compassion in the world that needs so many of us to walk this walk of seeing no stranger.
