Need That I See
Lyrics
What does the person before me need?
What does the person before me need?
What does the person before me need?
I can affirm and respond to the need that I see.
Can I see what the person before me needs?
Can I hear what the person before me needs?
Can I feel what the person before me feels?
I can affirm and respond to the need that I see.
Can I give what the person before me needs?
Can I do what the person before me needs?
Can I say what the person before me needs?
I can affirm and respond to the need that I see.
How close can I be to my neighbor?
How close can I be to my sister?
How close can I be to my brother?
I can affirm and respond to the need that I see.
What does the person before me need?
What does the person before me need?
What does the person before me need?
I can affirm and respond to the need that I see.
I can affirm and respond to the need that I see.
I can affirm and respond to the need that I see.
The need that I see.
Reflections on this Song
The English word compassion connotes “feeling with” the other—that is, feeling an echo of their feelings. In the Mussar definition, feeling is not sufficient; it must move me to action.
Derech Eretz Zuta (chapter 2) teaches:
“If you want to bond with love of your friend,
make it your business to act for their good.”
The goal is to awaken love and come closer to the friend. In the process, the other becomes less foreign to me.
But before I can act, I must understand what actions would be of real benefit. I must pay attention to the person before me. What needs can I see? What needs can I fill? Can I serve with respect and sensitivity?
To summarize compassion:
Awareness leads to action, which leads to closeness and love.
Middot
Compassion רחמים Rachamim
Awareness זהירות Zehirut
Kindness חסד Hesed
Generosity נדיבות Nedivut
Respect כבוד Kavod
Responsibility אחריות Achrayut
Sources
Alan Morinis, Everyday Holiness, Trumpeter, 2007.
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash
Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash