The calloused heart

When a heart cannot love, the heart is worthless and when a heart cannot feel compassion, it may as well stop pumping blood. The heart was made to love, to feel and to care for others and to share in the experiences of life. Today we are all too busy with our own lives, our dreams, visions, cares and burdens and have cut untied the cords that bind us together. We pass by the beggar on the street without even noticing him; we pass by the mother and child bask with an empty plate in front of them. The pregnant girl has to fend for herself and her unborn baby while we take a back seat and watch. With so much need around us only a calloused heart can go on without a tinge of compassion.We can easily become emotionally hardened; unfeeling: a callous indifference to the suffering of others.

We’ve rationalized it. We worked hard and so we deserve all the good things we enjoy. It is their fault for being in that place. They should have been more careful, not had so many children, worked harder in school or been more responsible. In any case, the poor will always be there and I cannot change the lives of everyone, so I might as well just get on with my life.

My life is not worth living if it just about me. I need to look on the outside and feel with those who hurt, cry, rejoice, celebrate or mourn. After all isn’t that what life is all about? It’s about you and me doing life together. We are here for each other. Hand in hand, side by side, bumper to bumper, we can change the world.