finding inner compassion on the highway

a small lesson for me in compassion...

Alright it is a lame Tuesday and I just feel like writing… a profound thing happened to me yesterday on my way home. Driving that same back country road (yes same road as the skid off incident). This time further down, and past the cemetery, I passed a kitten in the road… the speedy gonzales white van that hit it sped past me flying just prior to my notice of the small animal struggling for life in the road. Oh brother I thought, I really hate to see animals especially dogs and cats killed in the road. It is even worse when they have just been hit and are struggling for that last remaining breath of life.

I drove about a quarter mile further and decided that of course… I had to turn around and pick the kitten up out of the road… a few more cars speed past me… I was in horror thinking what I might come upon by the time I got back to the scene of the crime… but I kept going… I threw on my flashers and pulled over to the side of the road… as I went over to pick the kitten up off the road; the kitten lifted herself up with all her energy onto her front legs and with the little remaining strength in her body, her fractured leg, and broken right leg… she slid herself off the road to the side as I picked her up… she had such will to save herself and get her little body out of harms way… it was very strange.

When I passed the kitty upon the accident; it was evident that the kitten was horribly hurt, and just laying there shocked, with only the tail making movement. To see the will of this animal come back to life in front of me and pull herself off the road into the ditch was very strange to say the least… especially since I had driven so far down the road and back since the initial impact…

I scooped up the puppet rag-doll of a kitten into my arms. I walked to the closest house and pounded on the door to see if they would take the kitten, miss her, want to help her???... no one came to the door… like most country homes… the doors were wide open, barn close by wide open too, but no one around… that is how I grew up… trust abounds… since moving out of the country I've become the lock-em-up queen, locking myself out of more than just my car…

so, what can you do…

I thought about leaving the kitten on the porch or just sitting her inside the house… I'm pretty sure it was the kitten of that farm house, but not certain. Since no one was home, I decided to take the baby with me.

Her right leg just dangled there… she was calm and gracious for any companionship at that moment… certainly freaked out by the convertible ride the rest of the way home, she kept her composure and calm demeanor still… I gently placed her in a quite nook next to the warm refrigerator in the garage… clearly uncertain if she would make it through the night… I petted her and held her little head in my hand until she grew sleepy and calm enough to sleep… her ribs stuck out a bit too… she was banged up but good!

The next morning I woke up to find her perky as she possibly could be under the conditions… and, luckily my mom and dad weren't to mad about the new pet on the farm… They are used to receiving animals when it comes to having me around… I once brought three black kittens home with me from cross-country camp in high school… I've never been one to just leave sweet beings behind – knowing that I can possibly improve their fate and quality of life. And even though we have had black cats on the farm ever since, I think my parents always enjoyed them.

... I thought to myself this morning on my way to work… driving past the place of impact… how would I react if there was an accident involving people… would I stop and get out if there was no one on the scene? Would I help the people involved if they were covered with blood and screaming? I have stopped before after slowing down and making sure everything looked alright. Normally the police are on the scene and I'm waved off. But, there have been other times, in snow storms, I call the police but do not stop. Why? Would you??? With all of the legal law suites these days and liability attached to helping others then getting reamed in court for helping – not to mention – fear of blood, and other elements involving an accident…

Would you stop and help???

Why did I feel such a need to stop and go back to scrape the barely moving kitten off the highway???

My sister and my father are my heroes in this realm. My sister Janel (yes, J3 girl Janel), came upon an accident on her way home from work. She pulled over and looked in on the driver in the crashed car. He was covered with blood and glass pieces from a completely shattered windshield. She talked to him, and kept telling him to NOT rub his eyes… the glass would create more damage… he was so grateful to have here there to help him until the police and ambulance arrived… hopefully, her unselfishness helped him with his vision and healing the wounds… as I am certain that her just being there to talk with him was comfort in a time of need!

My father came upon an accident of a man who flipped his truck over. The man was clearly choking on his blood. He was very badly injured. My dad's compassion and intuition took over and he reached into his van, got a towel, and ran back over to help the man. He reached in and lifted the gentleman's head to keep him from choking on his own blood. He stayed with this man until the police showed up. When the police came they directed my dad away from the scene. My father tried to tell them that he needed his head raised. He was there to help and care for him… there to just talk with him in what ended up being the gentleman's last moments on this earth.

I'd like to say I could do such a thing, but could I really??? I don't know… compassion comes in many forms. Perhaps it is just reassuring the person next to you that things will be ok… maybe it is in just a hug or a kiss… maybe just in a phone call... However we choose to show and demonstrate compassion on this earth… it is the only thing that God and Christ ask of us. The least we can do is smile at one another… maybe help someone get across the street… maybe shelter a hurt animal… maybe just be that one last voice of love and compassion that a person hears…

Remember… love wins. love always wins. Godspeed.

Oh, and the kitty… still going strong a year later… loving each day of life on the farm.