Are you Cold Hearted? Or are you Compassionate?

[Cow Poke]

OK, first of all, let's clarify the terms....

I have noticed (particularly with my own sisters dealing with my Dad) that people who tend to be "compassionate" tend to think others who are NOT so "compassionate" are "cold hearted".

And people who are not so "compassionate" think of those who are "compassionate" as drama queens.

My baby sister (the youngest of 5 sisters who are all younger than me ) is rather "matter of fact" about things. She doesn't get emotional, she faces problems calmly and reasonably, and she sometimes gets annoyed with the "drama" that others partake in. Mrs. CP is pretty much the same way - no drama.

My oldest younger sister, on the other hand, is quite compassionate, and every problem is a crisis. Dad (mid 90's) fell in the bathroom (thread on that in Prayer/Praise) and my oldest younger sister thinks I should jump on a plane and get there (Ohio) right away. My youngest younger sister thinks I should wait til she talks to the doctors this evening and assesses the situation.

OVER ALL, however, this confirms something I've seen in ministry. We are all "gifted" differently, and have different talents and abilities. We react differently. I have seen where those with the gift of mercy, for example, get frustrated because those with the gift of discernment or prophecy don't rush to help, and are seen as "lacking compassion".

Personally, I think I used to be much less "compassionate" - and more "evangelistic" - and over the past 10 years or so have become more "pastoral".

How bout you? Where do you think you fit? Do you see yourself as compassionate, and get frustrated at those who are not? Do you see yourself as "rational", and get frustrated at those who are "into drama"?

Calm polite discussion, please.

[Paprika]

Feels.

[Cow Poke]

Feels.

Feel free not to post here.

Thanks

[Irate Canadian]

Feels.

Er, is there something wrong with having emotions?

[Paprika]

Feel free not to post here.

Thank you, but that would be precisely the crucial error: letting feels override rational thought and reflection.

[Paprika]

Er, is there something wrong with having emotions?

No.

[Cow Poke]

Er, is there something wrong with having emotions?

Paul didn't think so, often expressing emotions and mentioning things like "bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering..."

[Cow Poke]

Thank you, but that would be precisely the crucial error: letting feels override rational thought and reflection.

OK, let me be more clear. I'm asking you not to post here, because I really don't see what you could add of value, given your past posting history. Please do not post in this thread any longer.

Thanks.

[Scrawly]

I tend to take the overtly emotional (compassionate?) among us in small doses, as they can be too draining. I therefore prefer the company of the more rationally inclined.

[Cow Poke]

I tend to take the overtly emotional (compassionate?) among us in small doses, as they can be too draining. I therefore prefer the company of the more rationally inclined.

That was post 666 for you. It is therefore ignored.

[Chaotic Void]

OK, first of all, let's clarify the terms....

I have noticed (particularly with my own sisters dealing with my Dad) that people who tend to be "compassionate" tend to think others who are NOT so "compassionate" are "cold hearted".

And people who are not so "compassionate" think of those who are "compassionate" as drama queens.

My baby sister (the youngest of 5 sisters who are all younger than me ) is rather "matter of fact" about things. She doesn't get emotional, she faces problems calmly and reasonably, and she sometimes gets annoyed with the "drama" that others partake in. Mrs. CP is pretty much the same way - no drama.

My oldest younger sister, on the other hand, is quite compassionate, and every problem is a crisis. Dad (mid 90's) fell in the bathroom (thread on that in Prayer/Praise) and my oldest younger sister thinks I should jump on a plane and get there (Ohio) right away. My youngest younger sister thinks I should wait til she talks to the doctors this evening and assesses the situation.

OVER ALL, however, this confirms something I've seen in ministry. We are all "gifted" differently, and have different talents and abilities. We react differently. I have seen where those with the gift of mercy, for example, get frustrated because those with the gift of discernment or prophecy don't rush to help, and are seen as "lacking compassion".

Personally, I think I used to be much less "compassionate" - and more "evangelistic" - and over the past 10 years or so have become more "pastoral".

How bout you? Where do you think you fit? Do you see yourself as compassionate, and get frustrated at those who are not? Do you see yourself as "rational", and get frustrated at those who are "into drama"?

Calm polite discussion, please.

I find myself very much leaning towards the 'Cold-Hearted' territory. It's not that I'm some soulless monster, I just loathe melodrama (whether it comes from friends, family, or coworkers) and being required to do something IMMEDIATELY IF NOT SOONER... like rush someplace or take sides in a spat.

[Cow Poke]

I find myself very much leaning towards the 'Cold-Hearted' territory. It's not that I'm some soulless monster, I just loathe melodrama (whether it comes from friends, family, or coworkers) and being required to do something IMMEDIATELY IF NOT SOONER... like rush someplace or take sides in a spat.

So, out of curiosity, where are you on the "spiritual gifts" issue? Do you know what your spiritual gift(s) is(are)?

[mossrose]

There is a place for every personality. That is why believers are referred to as a body. Each part enhances the others in it's own way, and without all the parts, it doesn't work so well. All the parts compliment one another and fill in the blank spaces that each part on it's own is lacking.

Mary and Martha of Bethany are good examples of this. Martha is the practical, "let's get things done, we've got all these people to feed, Lord!" one, and Mary is the more sentimental gentle-hearted one who would rather sit and listen to the Lord than do anything else.

Sometimes we are each of us a little bit of one or the other at any given time.

[Irate Canadian]

So, out of curiosity, where are you on the "spiritual gifts" issue? Do you know what your spiritual gift(s) is(are)?

How would you go about discovering these gifts?

[Cow Poke]

There is a place for every personality. That is why believers are referred to as a body. Each part enhances the others in it's own way, and without all the parts, it doesn't work so well. All the parts compliment one another and fill in the blank spaces that each part on it's own is lacking.

Mary and Martha of Bethany are good examples of this. Martha is the practical, "let's get things done, we've got all these people to feed, Lord!" one, and Mary is the more sentimental gentle-hearted one who would rather sit and listen to the Lord than do anything else.

Sometimes we are each of us a little bit of one or the other at any given time.

Yeah, and sometimes we "save" each other from ourselves.

My secretary has the gift of mercy, no doubt, and would give away the store when she hears a sob story.
I have often had to step on and 'save her from herself' as she would dig into her own purse to give money to somebody who, to me, was an obvious scam.

We need each other, and to respect each other's roles in the body.