In my journey to better understand what compassion means, I spent some time in a Buddhist monastery. One of the senior monks there offered this message about a green Santa which I would like to share with you …
“This season, we invite you to imagine a Santa Claus dressed in green. He bears an empty sack, with no material gifts, but only a gift of the heart, a gift of love. This Santa visits each home, not coming secretly down the chimney, but knocking overtly at the front door. He has nothing in his bag. He greets the family and embraces each child in his arms with a long hug, no matter what color their skin, or whether they live in broken-down huts or luxurious homes. He tells them that this Christmas, he is bringing them the gift of love and compassion, and not gifts wrapped in boxes, because it is this energy of love and compassion that the world is most in need of now.”
May each of us find this love and compassion – in and around us – as we travel the road together …
Emergency Department Compassion 