Posts Tagged: contagious emotions

“Contagious Compassion”

On February 26, 2019 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

I read a wonderful transcript yesterday on the NPR website.  It was a story about anger, and how contagious it is.  It was also a story about contagious compassion.  (You can read and/or listen to the story at https://wysu.org/content/npr/anger-can-be-contagious-heres-how-stop-spread, accessed 02-26-2019.)

It seems that a gentleman by the name of Michael Beatty was angry with a comedian/actor named Patton Oswalt.  It seems that Oswalt had tweeted something negative about President Trump.  So, Beatty sent two harsh tweets to and about Oswalt.

Oswalt joked back with Beatty, but Oswalt did something else: He scrolled through Beatty’s twitter feed.  Oswalt found out that Beatty had some heavy-duty medical bills.  So, Oswalt sent a check for $2,000 to Beatty’s GoFundMe campaign, and encouraged his followers to do the same.

It isn’t just that people sent money or encouraging notes to Beatty.  This whole incident caused him to take a hard look at himself.  That was good and helpful.  But something else happened as well.  Beatty says that is becoming a better, less angry person.

I think that I became a slightly better person, just by reading the transcript.  Like Mr. Beatty, I sometimes am a very angry person.  Like Mr. Beatty, I frequently smart off.  Like Mr. Beatty, I am touched and humbled and changed by the generosity of others.

The Bible speaks of overcoming evil with good.  It speaks of doing good, even to those who have done us evil.  It says that we are to bless those who curse us.  You can google it to find out the references.  I assure you, these things really are in the Bible.

But the question that often feels like a splinter in my mind is this: Do I in fact practice these virtues?  Yes, I know that these things are in the Bible, but are they in me?  Am I overcoming evil with good?  Do I do good to others, no matter what?  Do I bless even those who curse me?

And the answer is, yes, I do . . . sometimes.  Sometimes needs to become more often than not.  Indeed, I hope that at some point, in time or in eternity, contagious compassion will consume me.  Only when it does will I be truly alive and truly myself.

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