Simple Solutions To Complex Problems
Human Compassion Is Critical To Physical And Emotional Development
by Eric Elkin
“Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice.”
At the age of 3, Izidor "was classified as 'unsalvageable" by doctors. What could have led a child so young to be given such a label? At some point in his early life, he most likely contracted polio. The disease left his right leg deformed. According to the principles of the Socialist Republic of Romania, he would spend his formative years in the Hospital for Irrecoverable Children.
Izidor is one of over 170,000 children abandoned as infants in Communist Romania. When dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, ruled Communist Romania, he created a gulag for children. The world remained uninformed until a news team from ABC's 20/20 shared the story. The images from that show shocked the world.
It turns out, Izidor was not "unsalvageable. Today, he lives in Denver, CO, and works as a manager of a KFC. His little apartment is a shrine to a particular event in his early life. When he was a child, a worker from the hospital brought him home to her apartment. Izidor got to spend time with a real family. For a moment, he forgot he was an orphan.
The woman's compassionate, loving care was his first experience with peace. Later in America, Izidor decorated his apartment to look like hers. When a reporter asked if that was due to the family connection, he said no. The woman's apartment reminded him of peace.
“No society can long sustain itself unless its members have learned the sensitivities, motivations and skills involved in assisting and caring for other human beings.”
The pediatricians who first visited the Home Hospital for Irrecoverable Children are still haunted by the experience. Their experience was reminiscent of those who first discovered concentration camps. It is difficult to see the depth of human cruelty.
A recently published article in The Atlantic magazine shines a light on that forgotten moment in history. The title of the piece says it all, "30 Years Ago, Romania Denied Thousands of Babies Human Contact." Who would have ever thought the absence of human contact could produce such horror.
The horror of Romania was a catalyst in forwarding an idea about human development, "attachment theory," into accepted science. Western child-development workers went to the country to help deal with the problem. Their work helped to develop an understanding of human development and how to treat emotional wounds.
It turns out, human contact is critical to a child's healthy development. Specifically, young children need to be exposed to human compassion. Children "need to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for normal social and emotional development."
The story from The Atlantic appeared as I was researching today's scripture reading. When I read the story, I started to wonder, when do we stop needing human compassion for emotional and physical development? It is hard not to aks this question when watching the news. Anger seems to be overflowing, and compassion is never offered as a solution.
The Romanian orphans reminded me that sometimes the solution to complex problems is simple. Perhaps our culture could use some of the same simplicity. I invite all social media posters to a challenge. When you find yourself desiring to express your anger at the world, stop. Instead, offer a "cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty." I'm confident the act of compassion will be a better reward than your political or social criticism.
Click to read Matthew 10: 40-42 (The Message)
Reflection Questions:
What is causing you the most frustration at this time?
How can you respond to this frustration with compassion and/or understanding?
When was a time you received compassion?
How did receiving compassion impact your view of the world?
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