CQ
Colossians 3:12 says, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
One of the great challenges men face is keeping the proper balance between being task-oriented achievers and people-oriented lovers. When I was younger it seemed easier to remember that this whole shootin match is about the souls of men, people. For some reason these days I find myself more frequently slipping out of balance and becoming so task-oriented that people and their needs become a hurdle to my accomplishing things instead of the reason for accomplishing things. The Holy Spirit in me helps me feel this imbalance. Over the past couple of weeks I had really been feeling a drop in my CQ, my Compassion Quotient. I asked the Lord to help make things right again in my heart and mind. He did.
Last Monday I was the hospital visitation pastor. My first stop was the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital. If your CQ is low, go there! I visited with a precious boy and his parents there. I saw precious children being wheeled in wheel chairs there. I cried, and am tearing up now simply remembering it. My next stop was at a different hospital, visiting with a man older than me who was to have a very serious surgery the next day. When I finished praying for him, he prayed for me! Of the two of us, I was the one most ministered to. That night when I arrived home my next door neighbors basement was in the process of flooding. We did what we could to get the water out together. As futile as our efforts seemed, the nature of the effort itself re-connected me to the pure joy of Christ-like compassion. Thank you Lord!
Men, clothe yourselves with compassion! If your CQ is low and out of balance, ask Him to make it right again. He will. Have a great week.
One of the great challenges men face is keeping the proper balance between being task-oriented achievers and people-oriented lovers. When I was younger it seemed easier to remember that this whole shootin match is about the souls of men, people. For some reason these days I find myself more frequently slipping out of balance and becoming so task-oriented that people and their needs become a hurdle to my accomplishing things instead of the reason for accomplishing things. The Holy Spirit in me helps me feel this imbalance. Over the past couple of weeks I had really been feeling a drop in my CQ, my Compassion Quotient. I asked the Lord to help make things right again in my heart and mind. He did.
Last Monday I was the hospital visitation pastor. My first stop was the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital. If your CQ is low, go there! I visited with a precious boy and his parents there. I saw precious children being wheeled in wheel chairs there. I cried, and am tearing up now simply remembering it. My next stop was at a different hospital, visiting with a man older than me who was to have a very serious surgery the next day. When I finished praying for him, he prayed for me! Of the two of us, I was the one most ministered to. That night when I arrived home my next door neighbors basement was in the process of flooding. We did what we could to get the water out together. As futile as our efforts seemed, the nature of the effort itself re-connected me to the pure joy of Christ-like compassion. Thank you Lord!
Men, clothe yourselves with compassion! If your CQ is low and out of balance, ask Him to make it right again. He will. Have a great week.
Posted by Tom Gray at 9/29/2009 2:18 PM 
Categories: Compassion
Tags: fallen friends children and flooded basements
Categories: Compassion
Tags: fallen friends children and flooded basements
Tom, thanks for this great reminder....keep them coming!
Jim
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Tom,
Thank you for the encouragement. I needed it today. My CQ was running on empty.
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