Compassion Fatigue?

In the past few months, there has been a devastating hurricane in the gulf region; and more recently a tragic earthquake that has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people in Pakistan, with possibly millions left homeless.

Urgent appeals have gone out from relief organizations everywhere, including the American Red Cross, and whole host of faith-based charities.

Lately it's hard to turn on the TV without seeing commercials asking for donations and/or volunteers...

In the midst of this barrage of urgent requests, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

Many Americans are experiencing a sort of compassion fatigue- a sense of feeling overwhelmed by requests for help, and wondering what is the best stewardship of the finite resources and gifts we have after paying bills and spending time at work and with family.

Americans have set new records with their monetary donations to relief efforts in the wake of hurricane Katrina.

The federal government has allocated around $60 billion and counting so far toward relief and redevelopment of the gulf region. Meanwhile, conservative congressional representatives continue to push for drastic cuts to vital services like medicare, help for needy children and food stamps, while at the same time defending unprecedented tax cuts approaching $100 billion for the wealthiest Americans.

Something is very wrong with our leaders priorities when vital services are targeted for cuts while the rich continue to get richer.

Enough Americans need to stand together and speak out for economic and social justice to bring about needed changes.

I believe this begins by working locally to address the needs of people less fortunate then us- not to give handouts, but to help people help themselves.

Together we can make a difference!

There once was a young man who was walking along the seashore, when he noticed literally hundreds of starfish had been beached when the tide receded. If they were not returned to the water soon, the sun would dry them out and kill them. One by one he began to pick them up and toss them into the water. A little while later a beachcomber happened upon the young man, asked him what he was doing saying

"How do you possibly think you are going to make a difference- there are so many of them?!?"

As he picked up one of the starfish and tossed it back into the water, he said to the other man "I made a difference to that one."

May we go and do likewise.

Peace,

John