If you can

put your hands on a video tape named

"Transformation," do it. The video reports of

what God is doing around the world, especially in

Columbia, Kenya, Guatemala, and the United States (Hemut,

California). Our church has just finished watching the

video over four Sundays.

These four communities were

as common as they are diverse. They evidenced the same

sort of problems: drugs, alcohol, family abuse, gang

activity, and the occult's destructive influence. Because

of the predominance of their problems, these four

communities were depressed spiritually, economically, and

socially.

Then! Then a small remnant

of the people of God began to resonate with the heart of

Jesus Christ. The New Testament frequently focuses on the

heart of Jesus. For his heart beat with compassion for

all people. One example: while en route to Jerusalem and

facing capital punishment, two blind men hailed Jesus to

their side and begged him to give them sight. He did and

they saw (Matthew 20: 32-34).

What is the big deal, you

ask? Jesus was on his way to take care of some big

business. Bigger than a nuclear arms reduction treaty.

Bigger than a cease fire accord. Bigger than planning to

blow a meteor off an impact on earth. Jesus was on his

way to start a new life for humankind. That despite

treaties, meteors, or wars, humankind's future is secure.

With that kind of big

business in Jerusalem, two nobodies got his attention. He

stopped in his tracks and took time for two blind

nobodies. Why? Because he had a heart of compassion. The

means to his end were also important.

That is the first secret

the church must imitate from our Lord: compassion.

Compassion, Webster says, is the feeling of sorrow for

the suffering or needs of another with an urge to help.

Most of us play compassion beautifully toward ourselves

as we are needy or even family members. But how about the

man or woman behind the counter at the gas station? How

about check out person at the grocery store? How about

the man who picks up our garbage? How about the poor man

or woman who calls our homes during supper hour to sell

us new vinyl siding (remember, he's trying to make a buck

just like us)?

How about the prostitute?

Do you hold up your two holes holy nose or do you see

them like Jesus with compassion? How about gang members?

Do we have compassion on them?

But here is a big one for

Republican Fayette County: do we Christians have

compassion on William Jefferson Clinton or do we view him

only through political eyes? Rest assured, Jesus sees him

and every other government worker from a postal carrier

to the former Mr. Speaker with compassion.

Let the people of God have

compassion for all people and begin the process of

transformation of our community!

The Rev. Dr. John

Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in

Fayetteville.

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