A scroll of compassion
We still had an hour before we could hear the Dalai Lama speak, so we entered the white tent outside Regions Field to kill some time.
It turned out to be a mini-bazaar of Tibetan artwork.
We watched the incredible patience of the sand artists. We listened to another monk explain the mandala. We wandered around the tables and eyed the beautiful pieces of art and the collection of words for sale.
And then I spotted this . . .
2014 has been my year of Compassion. It was what brought us to Birmingham this day to listen to the Dalai Lama, one of the world’s passionate contenders for compassion.
So I knew I had to take this scroll home as a tangible reminder of this year.
And as a reminder that when we seek, God lets us find. He has compassion on us.
I share the words from this scroll here with you to end my official One Word 2015: Compassion. It’s been a wonderful journey that I’ve only just begun.
Thank you all for your comments and prayers and just reading along this year. Your compassion has taught me and blessed me more than you know.
May God surprise you in return with your own gifts of grace, individually wrapped just for you.
* * *
What unexpected gift have you received this year? Please share.
What a lovely, wonderful post, and what a great word to have chosen. Reading this put a fresh and positive spin on what has been a rather brutal morning, physically.
My unexpected blessing from 2014 is sleeping about 30 inches from me. Her name is Pitunia JezeBull, and we found her running along a rural road in the cold and dark, chasing the lights of the car whose driver dumped her.
She looks a bit like Yoda, with immense ears and an wonderfully expressive face that wrinkles comically in response to her thoughts and emotions. But we couldn’t call her Yoda, since we already HAVE a Pit Bull named Yoda.
(The most common question we get…”Just HOW MANY Pit bulls do you have, anyway?” The answer, of course, is “One fewer than we may have tomorrow, if God chooses to send another.”)
Lisa, your writing, and your clear and open heart have made a difference in my world. You’ve given me hope on some mornings when I wanted to hide from God, because my physical fabric was hurting so much.
Thank you.
I love your unexpected blessing, Andrew. 🙂 Pitunia JezeBull is a great name. What a sweet heart you have for these animals that most people would just ignore. I’m certain that God smiles at that. Oh, that we all could have more hearts like that for all of God’s creatures–including each other.
Thank you for all the wisdom you’ve added to my life this year. My world is a better place because you’ve been in it. Praying your day gets better after the brutal start.
How beautiful that God would nudge you like that at years end. My word was discipline and I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what it means. Blessings to you and yours. Merry Christmas Lisa!
Discipline–that was a brave word, Lisha. 🙂 I love how God works with us through our words though. So many blessings. You have been a blessing to me this year.
Wow Lisa what a wonderful find to represent your word this year. I have been reviewing my journal and making plans for my hopes and dreams and where God is leading me in 2015. My word – enfold – changed a little this year but I still want/need to spend some time praying, journal in what ways. I envy you finding just the right scroll for your word and never thought of seeking out a speaker like you did on your topic. mmm, will try that if possible next year. great idea. I love all that you share here. You are a blessing to me. Merry Christmas.
I’ll look forward to where and how God will lead you next year, Jean. You’re a wonderful online spiritual mentor that I follow. Merry Christmas to you too!
How perfect, Lisa! So glad you found this scroll. My unexpected gift this year has been friendship, from people like you. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
Yes, the scroll was quite an unexpected surprise. Isn’t that so typical of God? I’m so glad to have connected more with you too this year, June. You bring many blessings wherever you leave words!
The unexpected gift that I received was learning how to have JOY (my 2014 word) in and through the most difficult year of my life. God’s gifts often surprise me! Great words about compassion. May we learn how to love like Jesus did (and does!)
My very best wishes for a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!! May your home be filled with His love, joy, and peace!
GOD BLESS!
Finding joy amidst trials is indeed a great gift from God. It’s one that always takes me by surprise too (although by now, you’d think I’d have figured out God loves to work like that!). ha. May you have a blessed Christmas too, Sharon, and may the next year be filled with even more joy and less hardships.
What a gift. You have been faithful to apply yourself to look and learn and have obviously been blessed–and blessed others–in the process.
Thank you, Natalie. It has definitely been a year of seeking and finding! God is so good.
That sand art looks amazing. I hope you have a very merry and Christ-filled Christmas.
Yes, that sand art–oh my! It was incredible. I can’t imagine the painstaking patience they have to do that. And then to wipe it all away a few days later! I can barely stand to crumble up a jigsaw puzzle when I’m finished.
Merry Christmas to you too, Loren!
I like that definition of compassion. It’s been a great year and you’ve definitely showed compassion to all you interact with, Lisa. You’ve given me gifts all year long… Thanks, sister. Merry Christmas and God bless you and yours.
You’re too kind to me, Floyd. Thank YOU for all the gifts you’ve passed along this year to me. Looking forward to what will bring us in the next year! Merry Christmas.
What a lovely affirmation of your word, Lisa. And such an exciting play date–to hear the Dali Laama, to wander through such art. Christmas blessings to you, dear one. I have been grateful for your companionship in 2014.
Yes, it was an awesome play date to hear the Dalai Lama this year! I’m so glad for friends like you who help me venture out beyond my boundaries. It makes for an exciting and meaningful journey. Merry Christmas to you and yours!