I stumbled upon an interesting book that taught me how to take a test on my compassion by taking my PULSE! Thought you might like to try it!
Frank Rogers Jr. “Practicing Compassion” Take your PULSE!
“P – Paying attention. Cultivate a nonjudgmental, nonreactive awareness of whatever agitation is present within you.
U – Understanding empathically. Listen for and be moved by the suffering hidden within the cry of this agitation – the fear, longing, or aching wound in need of tending.
L – Loving with connection. As you are moved by the suffering within you, extend tender care toward the need or wound that presents itself.
S –Sensing the sacredness. Recognize and savor the expanse of compassion that holds and heals every suffering within you.
E – Embodying new life. Notice the gifts and qualities of restored humanity that are being birthed within you.
In taking our PULSE, we not only relax the reactivities, repulsions, fears, and drives that distort our natural humanity but also tend to the wounds and needs hidden within them. In so doing, we are restored to ourselves – selves that are naturally compassionate.”
As I completed my test, I thought my family of fur babies, our doggies, are the perfect example of what compassion should be! And, how I treat them might be a even better test for me. Look at the wisdom of my thoughts; Proverbs 12:10 ICB, “A good man takes care of his animals. But even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
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In trying to take the PULSE Test, I think I can understand your example Sara of the doggies better, particularly as it pertains to “Cultivate a nonjudgmental, nonreactive awareness”.
Thinking on your wisdom scripture “Proverbs 12:10 ICB, “A good man takes care of his animals. But even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” Whoa! That is very cut and dry…no middle ground. I looked up some antonyms for wicked and they used descriptions such as ‘sinless’, ‘virtuous’, ‘pure’, ‘moral’. Then I found this verse from Colossians 3:12 that seems to pertain: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” I guess one can’t even begin to know or have true compassion unless they are righteous, not wicked.
Debi, Not sure I understand what you just said. Did you understand the P answer to be Colossians 3? Was this your pulse score that you have mastered the test and you are the combination of your quoted verses. That’s cool.
Let me see if I can be clearer. No, I don’t think the P answer is Col 3 but I thought Col 3 related to your scripture Proverbs 12:10.
No, I sure don’t think I have mastered the PULSE test. I am still trying to re-read it and understand it and how to even take the test. I don’ t really understand what the author means by “the suffering within you”, so I sure don’t think that I have gotten to the E part of ‘compassion birthed within me’. Right now I am working on P, paying attention. (lots in what he says to try to understand).
What I think I was trying to say in my first comment was that I understand your example of doggies being an example of compassion in that dogs seem to have cultivated ‘a nonjudgmental, nonreactive awareness” and are so consistently happy and gracious and loving to their owners and others as well.
I am starting my test with the P…“P – Paying attention. Cultivate a nonjudgmental, nonreactive awareness of whatever agitation is present within you.”
First. Pay attention to me-why am I thinking such thoughts, what mind venue have I visited to have such a judgmental attitude that surrounds my wise judgement. Why am I am not aware of where the mind has been on a particular issue and there are many. Be aware of what agitates me and why. Then, I may approach the U- you! 😇
Sara, thanks for this excellent exercise in the examination of conscience …[from my Catholic days]….to the examination of consciousness.
That kneejerk reacting (almost unconsciously) to certain stimuli….like someone’s confrontation, opposition, accusation, etc. That proud rising up of the flesh the normal reaction of ‘’the old man revived’’. Even after all these years, despite all the resolutions to be like a lamb before my shearers….I have to war against that proclivity to react rather than . And why do I still think that works? It doesn’t work but the unrenewed mind wants to give it ONE MORE TIME!! The author is saying to examine within ourselves….LOOK! why do I do this? What wound is there that I have NOT allowed to be healed by the Balm of Gilead which Christ provided for that exact purpose? And why is there an instantaneous judgment against my opponent at that moment? For then there exists the necessity for repentance and new resolutions and the circle remains unbroken. So that’s as far as I’ve gotten with…’’Pay attention’[….to be contd. ??]
Earlier this morning these Scripture references were posted on something I was reading….a comment on a blog. I found them to be apropos to the thought on these comments. Ps. 19:12-13 …”Who can understand one’s errors? Lord, cleanse me from secret faults and sins. and from presumptuous sins. Let them NOT have dominion over me Then I shall be innocent from great transgression.”
And in Philippians 1: 9-11 where Paul prayed [and I pray] ..”that my love may abound in knowledge and discernment, approve excellent things, be without OFFENSE till Jesus comes and be filled with all the fruit of righteousness by Jesus Christ.” AMEN.
“U – Understanding empathically. Listen for and be moved by the suffering hidden within the cry of this agitation – the fear, longing, or aching wound in need of tending.
So there is a suffering hidden in the cry of agitation…Could this possibly be coming from the truth revealed in Romans 8:21-24 ESV ..”…For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons the redemption of our bodies..”
Yes, the answer for the tending of my soul’s aggression is found in the Hope given in Romans 8. pulse…now to the L, love hung on a cross, S, sacrifice, E, embodying new life…..it all comes seemly when I renew my mind to the
truth applied from Romans 8 plus!
“So there is a suffering hidden in the cry of agitation”. Sara your explanation of this as it relates to the verses you gave in Romans 8:21-24 helps me understand it better and why it is there in us. Thank you. And as I tried to connect your pulse example to needing to renew the mind, I believe that got clearer to me also. I read in Romans 8:5-6 the following about the mind: “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”
My understanding right now is that understanding and a good pulse reading will come from putting into practice the ‘things that please the Spirit’. That involves choice, putting hands and feet and mouth to the choice, and accountability to the choice.