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A Look at True Compassion

May 25, 2013

I wanted to go a different way with this blog, well maybe not different. I want to approach my topic from an obscure angle. I want people to understand compassion. Not compassion for me, just compassion in general. And recently, I have encountered people who have shown me what compassion really is, what love really is. I’ve found this in the people who volunteer at animal rescues and shelters.

An animal rescue differs from a shelter in that a shelter is usually a county run operation in which animals are sometimes “put to sleep” if they cannot find homes for them. It is a sad necessity that happens because of money shortages and happens too often. A rescue is a place where animals go and are allowed to live out the rest of their natural lives. The people who volunteer their time at these places understand compassion on a level that I can only strive for.

Think of this: We have all seen how many animals go into shelters and rescues, dogs, horses, cats, goats, rabbits, animals of all kinds. Often for no better reason than we got tired of them or, as often is the case, they became too expensive. Well when this happens at a shelter, the animal is often cared for and given love by a volunteer. Many times they invest themselves in these animals and come to love them as a foster parent grows to love a child in their home for such a short period. But then after that short time, they must say goodbye to these animals in a way that involves unhappy tears.

If an animal goes to a rescue, he finds a place where he can live out his natural life, a place where he is given love and care. I have heard of places like this that have more than 12 dogs, a bunch of cats, goats, horses and who knows what all else. I some cases, I have heard of one prince of a dog or a couple of fluff balls who live with a couple of cats. In these cases these animals are family, special guests from the gods. Theirs is the honor to care for these creatures.

Think of this y’all. None of these people get paid for doing this, there is no government subsidy or public accolades for them. This is all done with love, with no thought of getting anything in return. They give of their energy and their lives and their love for no gain. How f@#!*g awesome is that?! That is the meaning of compassion.

So to you: Sherrie, Kim, Michelle, Shirenn, SaraLynn, Betsie, Anne, and all of their husbands and friends that I did not mention, I just want to tell you that you are all good people, the best that humanity has to offer. I am proud to know you or know of you.

And you, the rest of my audience, just think of what these people do everyday. What they give of themselves and what they can teach us as we go about our daily dealings with each other.

The Unforgiven signature.

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