Compassion: a conversation

Today a young woman sat down at a computer next to me in a study lounge, sniffling like crazy. I was working on a project, and from the way she sounded, I thought she had the Plague. I don't have time to deal with that. I mean, we have finals in a week. So I started to plot ways to save myself from her disease.

After a few minutes of sniffling, it started to sound like maybe it wasn't the Plague. It actually sounded like maybe she was crying. My brain processed this slowly while I sat there thinking about saying something basic like "Are you okay?"

My brain is slow. And I am a cad.

While I deliberated, a counselor (I'm guessing) came from out of nowhere and spoke soothingly to her and by then, the woman was in full-on sob mode. The counselor (God bless her) talked her into taking a break to have a chat with her.

And I sat there with the reality that I am an ass. I was worrying about germs while a person less than two feet from me was having a crisis.

Aren't we all though?

I think about compassion more than I act on it.

Me too. Being thoughtful and kind is hard.
And then you kick yourself because you weren't thoughtful, or you tried and just ended up sounding dumb and awkward.

Yeah.
I'm 45 years old and I still don't know how.

Some people have a gift.

Like that counselor. Where did she come from? Who alerted her? Does she have a spidey sense for stuff like that? Because it's a big campus.

Maybe somebody else saw the crying girl and also doubted their ability to be compassionate, so they alerted the counselor.

Probably.

Or maybe the counselor just has a superpower.

Absolutely. Yes times infinity. I missed an opportunity to show compassion to a fellow student in dire need of someone willing to lend her some time. The woman who approached her, engaged with her, and presumably gave her a bit of comfort is a super hero. I am humbled.