mylocallife
The Courage of Compassion


Posted date: May 2, 2023

by: Admin My Local Life
1565 Views
A Book Review by Bernadette Mills

"Gosh, I hope I didn't offend you." My friend says to me as he comes through my door. "How So?" I ask. "That post I made on Facebook about how all {people with your political views slur} are imbeciles – You know I didn't mean you, though, right... you’re pretty smart and I would never say that about you or want to hurt you" He stammers awkwardly. People are hard to hate up close when you get to know them. It’s almost impossible to hate someone unless you "other" them, make them an outsider, unworthy, unlovable.

I have often struggled with the lack of dignity that I see people treated with. Whether it is a mom struggling with drug addiction or a person who is disabled struggling with poverty, we treat them so badly in this country. I've seen it in the comments on the internet, and I've heard it in conversations at the grocery store. We seem to struggle with loving the unlovely. We have difficulty finding the courage to be compassionate to people we can't understand. I found Robin's book to be comforting. I needed to know that there are people looking for ways to show compassion and reign in their own discomfort and judgment in their everyday life. I agree with her assessment that there are two kinds of people: there are Good People, and then there are Good People who are hurting.

Is it fair to judge a person's life based on the worst thing they have ever done? We don't have to condone poor decisions, but can we just extend enough grace to treat them with dignity? After spending decades as a defense attorney Robin asks us to stop dismissing the humanity of people charged with serious crimes and continue to serve them in their time of need. I would ask you to read this book, then scale down these concepts and use them to show grace to your coworkers from different generations (with different values), have compassion for your friends with different political views, and give grace to your teenagers. Paul McCartney once said, "In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Have we, not all needed compassion?
Other Articles You Might Be Interested In
February Farmers' Market to be held on the 18th
On Saturday, February 18th, there will be a Farmers' Market at 218 W Washington St., from 10 till 2.

This market is one of the monthly Farmers' Markets held through the off-season (Oct-May). These monthly Markets will be held every third Saturday.

Vendors are lined up for the market, and there is a plan for food to be served, for donation.

If you are a vendor and would like to participate, please let the coordinator know at: [email protected]

Or if you are a customer,
THE TIME IS OUT OF JOINT – A FATHER’S DAY MESSAGE
By: Mark Winne

NEWSLETTER FOR 06/15/2020

THE TIME IS OUT OF JOINT – A FATHER’S DAY MESSAGE [3]

<blockquote>Now my dears, said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.
_The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter</blockquote>

Nature is out of balance, teetering toward an unsavory resolution that may, in fact, be revenge for
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants Program
The USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production has announced the FY24 <a href="https://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/grants">Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Competitive Grants Program</a> Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications are now being accepted via <a href="https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/352256">Grants.gov</a>


These competitive grants initiate or expand the efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, govern
Future Leadership Training Classes in Cheyenne County
There is a group of leaders in Cheyenne, Rawlins, Sherman and Thomas Counties that held discussions with K State Extension, Hansen Foundation and the Kansas Leadership Center regarding support for establishing sustainable leadership programs in these four counties. The first Community Builders class was held in Cheyenne County in 2007 and the last of four classes was held nine years ago in 2012. Close to 80 county residents participated in these classes. The original eight trainers have eithe
Rangeland Fencing
Written By Fred Wedel, retired NRCS District Conservationist
Photos By Cale Rieger, NRCS Natural Resource Specialist

Proper fence is needed for grazing livestock in a rotational grazing system. As mentioned before, a rest-rotation grazing system is essential for properly managing grazing systems in the western Kansas area of short grass and mid-grass prairie.

Many perimeter fences are 3 or 4 strands of barbed wire. Interior cross-fences are usually a single smooth wire. The interior fe
Our Afternoon at The Crow Haven Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
Our Sunday afternoon was filled with train rides, good food, climbable hay bales, slides, missing chickens, a corn maze, and everything Autumn-y and pumpkin-y. We spent the afternoon @ The Crow Haven Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch in Bird City. A family owned and operated event which celebrates everything Autumn.

Open on weekends throughout October, The Crow Haven Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch is a must visit for the family. Everyone easily found hours worth of entertainment with all of the va
WHAT ARE COVER CROPS?
Written by Fred Wedel, Retired NRCS District Conservationist

What are cover crops? Cover crops are grown for the protection and enrichment of the soil. In Agriculture, cover crops are used to cover and protect the soil rather than to be harvested.

Cover crops are used to manage cropland and reduce soil erosion, improve soil fertility, improve soil quality, improve water storage, reduce pressure from weeds, pests and diseases, and improve biodiversity and wildlife in an agroecosystem.