The first is the Amish community that suffered a school shooting in October, 2006. A man held young Amish girls hostage in a one-room school room in Lancaster County, PA. Although he had planned to carry out more terrible things, this man killed five girls before taking his own life. Anyone who watches the news probably remembers this event. Shortly after, funds were set up to help the victims and their families. The Amish also set up a fund for the killer's family. Within hours of this tragedy, the grandfather of one of the young girls who was killed was asking for forgiveness towards the killer. This message was repeated time and time again, not only in words but with actions. For instance, some of the Amish neighbors of the killer's family went to them and supported them in their grief.
It would be easy to dismiss this example of compassion due to the religious nature of the Amish. So I found another example on the New York Times website on August 20th. In Parkersburg, IA, Mark Becker shot his former football coach Ed Thomas. The Becker and Thomas families had been close for many years. They attended church together. The Beckers, both the father and three sons, played football under Mr. Thomas' coaching. They lived in a small town together. But in the first public statement by the Thomas' after the shooting, they called for compassion for the Becker family, knowing that they were suffering as well. And again, they weren't just words. The Thomas family repeatedly reached out to the Beckers in the weeks that followed.
In Wikipedia's article on the Amish school shootings, there is a quote from Marie Roberts, the wife of the shooter, who wrote a letter to her Amish neighbors. She says "Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need. Gifts you've given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you." And I am thankful that there are examples of compassion for me to follow when I stumble towards ill will. I believe that there were times when the families of the victims privately expressed anger towards the shooters. But they did not let their anger overcome them and define their actions. They continually made a conscious effort to remain compassionate. By following their examples, and that of others who have embraced compassion, I too am able to change the world in which I live.
