I work quite a lot with homeless and other very needy people. My heart hurts for what they suffer. It's not a vague "compassion in the abstract."
I'm very fortunate to have a supportive group of friends, with some of whom I can be very open and vulnerable. Still - there's something missing. Some passion that used to be there, that isn't. Still fenced in. Doesn't help that some that should be supportive just kick me down. Maybe it is just "getting older." But that should mean more self-assuredness. Which, mostly, I am.
Hey! I'm alive and well. And thankful.
Emotions are GOOD things. Even Jesus wept.