The psychiatrist and theologian writer Gerald May speaks of a person he knew in one of the poorest psychiatric wards in New York, a young woman named Karen who sat alone day after day without responding to anyone who spoke to her. Every day, one of the maintenance men, Mike Foster, would sit at her side, eating his lunch and chatting with her even though she showed no response. One day, as John prepared to leave with his usual, “See you tomorrow, Karen,” she answered, “See you tomorrow, Mike.” A year later, she left the hospital and lived an everyday and happy life.

You may wonder why Mike Foster spent his lunch hour speaking to someone who did not respond.  You can imagine Mike eating a sandwich, offering some to Karen, talking about his day, and asking Karen about her day.  Day after day, month after month, this ritual would continue with no response from Karen. Mike was not a doctor.  He was a maintenance man responsible for cleaning and repairing items around the hospital.

Why did Mike spend his lunch hour with Karen, a woman who never responded to him?

Mike's actions were driven by a powerful force: compassion. Compassion is the sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. It’s the ability to move beyond our selfishness and reach out to others with love. Though initially met with silence, Mike's compassion eventually broke through and transformed Karen's life, showing us the profound impact of small acts of kindness.

I encourage you to follow in Mike's footsteps. Seek out a fellow employee, friend, family member, or the person attending church alone. They will benefit from spending time with you or having lunch with you. Your time is a precious gift; by sharing it with others, you show them they are valued and important. There doesn’t need to be a set agenda; spend time with someone who may enjoy your company.

Remember, your time is the most precious gift you can give someone—it’s fleeting and finite. But when combined with compassion, it becomes a powerful tool for healing mental wounds and creating the conditions for miracles to become reality. Your actions, no matter how small, can profoundly impact someone's life.  

Compassion heals.

Until Next Friday,