Support for Carly's law driven by Spirit of Compassion (Published by AL.Com)

Carly's Law is a spiritual issue, not a political issue. It is clothed in the Spirit of Compassion. I never thought of Compassion as a powerful force until I started working on Carly's Law. It has led me to really comprehend the ramifications of the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept." Since I started this journey with Carly's Law, I have struggled with uncontrollable tears.

Although I have been an active participant in formulating, sponsoring, and promoting "Carly's Law;" in many ways I have been more of a spectator as I watch the power of Compassion do the heavy lifting of changing hearts. Jesus was clothed in Compassion when he raised Lazarus from the dead, healed the sick, and opened blinded eyes. I believe it was even Compassion disguised as Anger that compelled him to overturn the moneychangers' tables in the temple.

Politics is a messy business that gets even messier during election season. Our form of government makes it inevitable. I strongly suspect much of the messiness was intentionally built in by our Founding Fathers as a means to keep powerful forces in check. But it has unpleasant side-effects.

Legislators are bombarded on all sides by many individuals and groups with many needs, opinions, ideas, pleas and demands. We squabble among ourselves. We are often surrounded by chaos and confusion. As we search for clarity among the confusion, we sometimes get defensive and hard-hearted. It's not because we're cruel and don't care; it's just human behavior.

If Carly's Law is successful, it will not be because its supporters yelled the loudest, sent the most cut-and-pasted emails, or had the most money. It will be because its supporters are driven by

Compassion. Compassion for suffering children. Compassion for their families who suffer with them. Compassion for our adversaries. And even Compassion for legislators. Compassion that makes hard hearts tender. Compassion that cuts through the chaos. Compassion that makes me and Jesus cry.