What does it take to awake compassion in us?

http://www.msf.org/

"Médecins Sans Frontières is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion, and natural or man-made disasters."

These men and women have no political affiliation; they do not seek self-serving publicity, book deals, a reality series... fame, and fortune. For a while, they will give themselves entirely to the unfortunate regardless of race, religion, or gender.

Today 2 children are born. Because of circumstances, one will live a life of plenty, and the other a life of struggle; the first run in the suburbs of New York's manicured lawn and 2-car garage housing community, the other in a village in Sudan. Most of us just heard of Sudan when Darfur! Yet there, a mother is watching over her child, wondering how she will keep him safe from harm, starvation, and disease.

We are so desensitized to poverty, famine, epidemic, and violence. We are bombarded with them in our movies, shows, and games, which may seem unreal when we see them in the news.

During Bosnia and Rwanda's genocides, what were we doing while hundreds of thousands were massacred? Following the fascinating saga of President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

It is natural to feel helpless with so much misery and injustice. What can one person do? Where to Start?

We do not have to travel to Sudan or Chad to find misery and injustice; we do not have to sacrifice our comfort either to make a difference, and we do not have to be a Saint like Mother Theresa to do the right thing. Let's begin by skipping a 5-dollar Starbucks Frappuccino or a 7 dollars Burger meal a week. Would you miss it?

Know that those little things you are skipping here or there and donating to an organization of your choice will make a difference. Pick a cause and be its champion. No money? Volunteer an hour or two a week to your local organization. No Nobel Price will exist, but life would have much more meaning. You could honestly say, "this is why I was born."

So Get up, and look around; someone is waiting for you!