How One Woman’s Story Reminded Me to Stay Connected in a Numb World
The Power of Compassion
I honestly do not know who I will interview when recording a podcast season.
Why? Most of my guests are unhoused. Normally, I get up in the morning and pray that I will run into someone I can serve, help, or need a conversation filled with hope.
Well, that is what happened in Episode 2.
I drove downtown to the heart of Atlanta, and I met Keisha. Immediately, something told me to stop and acknowledge her, and before long, she was talking about how she needed encouragement.
That’s when I kindly asked if she wanted to share her story and be a special guest on the Imagine Dignity Podcast, and she excitedly agreed.
During our conversation, she spoke about how hard it is to access resources as a woman and even revealed to me that she had been recently diagnosed with cervical cancer.
I encouraged her to continue seeking treatment, and she agreed, but toward the end of our conversation, I believe we were meant to meet—because I felt the genuine compassion she shared with me as we exchanged encouragement with one another.
Despite her hardships, Keisha’s spirit shined through her story in ways that few people get the chance to see.
Her vulnerability, strength, and resilience are truly remarkable. During and after the interview, she embraced me as her surrogate nephew, further solidifying our bond.
Her story reminded me of how easy it is to be apathetic these days and ignore those facing insurmountable challenges. Don’t believe me? Open any social media app, and there it is, right in your face—political hatred, wars, missiles, cold comments under social posts, genocide, verbal attacks towards groups of people socially and politically, violent acts towards others, injustice, and indifference.
These things are becoming so routine that many people are becoming numb. And that’s not all—having a smartphone in your hand exposes you to countless forms of injustice all at once, which can be overwhelming.
This constant influx of social media trauma makes it easy to build walls, to feel emotionally paralyzed, or to experience compassion fatigue because sometimes it’s just too much to take in at once.
The consequence of guarding ourselves is that it can make a person build walls around themselves or their family and loved ones, trying to avoid the pain that’s happening right outside our doors—or even within our own hearts. But when I think about the world, I realize what we need more of is not more apathy, but more compassion.
Keisha’s story and spirit reminded me that compassion can still change lives and be a light in the world. Talking to Keisha reminded me that compassion can do five things:
1. Compassion Makes Us Aware of the Suffering of Others
When we practice compassion, we begin to notice the things we’ve been conditioned to overlook. We see the person sitting on the corner who we used to walk past. We hear the stories that are too often silenced. Compassion forces us to face the pain that exists in the lives of people all around us.
2. Compassion Helps Us Stay Connected
We live in a world where it’s easier than ever to disconnect. You can scroll through a social media feed full of pain and still feel completely removed from it. But when we lean into compassion, we resist that urge to disconnect. Instead of shielding ourselves, compassion invites us to stay connected, even when it’s hard. It says, “I’m with you. I see you.”
3. Compassion Allows Us to Be Proximate to Others and Get Active
Compassion isn’t just a feeling—it’s about showing up and being proximate—because compassion is active. It pulls us out of our comfort zones and puts us in proximity to those who are suffering. Compassion moves us from just feeling sad about something to actually doing something.
4. Compassion Is About Building Peace
Compassion is where peace begins. We can’t talk about peace if we’re not willing to see the humanity in the people who are suffering. Compassion asks us to approach those we might not understand or even like and try to see things through their eyes. It doesn’t mean we have to agree with everyone, but it does mean we approach them with empathy. Peace doesn’t just happen—it’s something we have to build with compassion at the foundation.
5. Compassion Gives Us a Chance to Create a Better World
At the end of the day, compassion gives us hope. It’s a chance to create the kind of world we actually want to live in. Compassion isn’t about being passive; it’s about taking an active role in shaping a future where kindness, justice, and understanding aren’t just nice ideas, but how we live every single day. Compassion gives us the courage to imagine something better, to believe that we can actually make a difference, even when things feel overwhelming.
In this moment, Keisha gave me more than I hoped to pass to her.
We see and love you, Keisha!
Nephew
Order “Zion Learns To See: Opening Our Eyes To Homelessness” [HERE]
If you want to explore homelessness in the U.S., please consider reading “I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People.”
Explore my book “When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together” to learn about the impact of community involvement and collective action on social change.
Discover “All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity to gain insight into the significance of understanding the historical narratives that shape people and how you might stand in solidarity with your neighbor.
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