Let’s face it--there’s A LOT going on in our World!

In times of tragedy we have seen many compassionate caring individuals step up to the plate to help out others. But is there a limit to our compassion?

I had recently watched a Dateline MSNBC Episode that showed the horrendous crisis in Uganda where children are being threatened and “recruited” as part of a one-man’s army.

A few days later, I read about a terrible stampede in Baghdad where hundreds were trampled on due to the climate of fear.

Then there was Hurricane Katrina which devastated New Orleans.

A few days after Hurrican Katrina, I sent out an ACTION email to our Peaceful Earth subscribers.

In the email I included ways people can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I put a link to the Red Cross and also requested that people hold the people of New Orleans in their prayers.

In that same email, I also mentioned the Crisis in Uganda and the Stampede in Baghdad and asked that prayers be sent to these victims as well. I also gave a link to a letter campaign for the crisis in Uganda.

Shortly after, I received an email from someone who was VERY upset about my email. The person said that I was “insensitive” to send out announcements of catastrophes in other places when there was so much devastation here in America. The person concluded saying something like, “How can we think about anyone else when all the people in New Orleans are suffering?”

This email made me question many things. One, if we pray for ALL victims of suffering anywhere does that mean "less is available" to those in New Orleans?

Are we saying there’s not enough love to go around? Are we saying that we can only have “so much” compassion in our hearts? Are we saying that we don’t have enough love to give to everyone? Are we saying that some groups of people are more deserving of support than others?

I pray for ALL people who are suffering. We are all one. Part of our mission as “peacekeepers” is to expand and open our hearts to everyone. Part of our mission is to NOT judge who is more deserving of our compassion. We are all deserving!

I’d invite each of us to look deep into our hearts and ask, “Is our heart filled to capacity with love to where we don’t have any more love to give beyond our selves or our immediate sphere?” Or, is there enough room in our hearts to give love and compassion to ALL those who suffer?

Lisa Hepner is the author and compiler of Peaceful Earth: Spiritual Perspectives on Inner Peace & World Peace. Hepner is the founder of the Peaceful Earth Website and contents. Hepner is the creator of the Peace Prizes, Peace Movies, Magazine, Ecourse and Ebooks featured on the website www.peacefulearth.com. Lisa Hepner is also a public speaker and screenwriter.

Lisa Hepner is completing her second book titled, "All I ever needed to know about Peace, I learned from a rubberband." Expected release date Jan 2006. To receive notification when this book becomes available please go to the website at www.peacefulearth.com and sign up to receive this magazine and updates. Note: If you received this magazine directly from us, you're already on the list...!