What does compassion look like in action?
In this Christmas Day special, I share two powerful true stories that changed how I think about seeing people differently.
The first is "A Soft Answer" by Terry Dobson—an American aikido student in 1960s Japan who learns what his martial art really means when an elderly man transforms a violent encounter on a Tokyo train with nothing but kind words and curiosity.
The second is a story from 1952 about a father who can't drive past a family standing in the rain on Christmas morning—and makes a split-second decision that teaches his children the true joy of making others happy.
Both stories ask the same question: Can we see the humanity in people when they appear to be resisting our help? Can we turn around when we see suffering?
I also share how The Chronicles of Narnia became my gateway into reading as a contemplative practice, and why powerful stories have the ability to transform us.
A shorter episode for Christmas Day. Thank you for listening, and happy holidays to you and yours.
Episode Length: ~20 minutes
Stories Featured: "A Soft Answer" by Terry Dobson | 1952 Christmas Story from the National Story Project
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Standing Nowhere is a contemplative spirituality podcast exploring mindfulness, meditation, and what it means to be human through vulnerable storytelling.
