CNY Inspirations: Caring helps us bend our moral arc

This feature is coordinated by The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com and InterFaith Works of CNY. Follow this theme and author posted Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Politicians, preachers, and pundits love quoting Martin Luther King Jr.’s “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
As an admonition, how do we help bend that moral arc?
Arthur Kleinman suggests it is through caring:
“Care is one of those few precious things that require authentic commitment and direct action. All of us must bend the arc of history if it is to bend toward care. Why not start with you and me?”
His and King’s vision coalesce in that “Care is about doing good in the world, and that doing good for others is a way of doing good for ourselves.”
Psalm 85 says that “justice and peace shall kiss,” but perhaps it is in “caring“ that they embrace.
“Life is with people… is in absolute opposition to the radical libertarian model that has become so popular and influential in our times.”
In pursuing justice and peace, we share the “embrace of caring” through sacrifice, self-giving, and appreciation for the mystery of life together.Dave Pasinski is active in educational, community, and spiritual groups. He is an on-call chaplain with Hospice, a member of the Post Trauma Response Team, and a Red Cross Spiritual Care provider.