Ripples Across the Years

Visible Compassion Changes Lives Beyond Our Knowing

This is an old story, but I'm writing about it now.

Yesterday, while searching my email for some unrelated information, I came across a message from years ago that stopped me and took me back over a decade.

A friend forwarded me a social media post written by a runner who had seen me guiding my friend Ivan Castro during the 2011 Myrtle Beach Marathon. I believe there are no coincidences in the universe—this message reappearing now, when I wasn't looking for it, feels like a nudge to share something important about how we affect each other's lives, often without knowing it. Love and compassion continue to impact our environment.

The Unexpected Witnesses

Ivan and I were running the Myrtle Beach Marathon together, connected by a simple string tied to our wrists, as we had done dozens of times at that point and would go on to run many, many more races. As Ivan's guide, my attention was fixed on potential hazards, maintaining our pace, and ensuring we could navigate the course safely. For Ivan, who had lost his sight in service to our country, the marathon represented another boundary to push through, another statement that his blindness would not define what he could accomplish. We had been running together for 4 years, and it was just another marathon.

What we didn't realize, and had not fully discussed at that time, was the witnesses to our journey, not spectators along the sidelines, not our fellow Soldiers, but fellow runners whose lives would be touched by what they saw.

The Observer's Perspective

A fellow runner named Elizabeth and her father were around mile 7 when they noticed us. At first, she thought we might be wearing handcuffs as an attention-seeking stunt. But as they drew closer, the reality became clear: a blind runner and his guide, connected by a simple string, moving forward together in perfect trust.

I had no idea then, but Elizabeth was deeply moved by what she witnessed. In a social media post she wrote after the marathon, she described how seeing Ivan and me run together affected her emotionally, even disrupting her breathing pattern. More significantly, the image of guide and runner connected by a string became, for her, a profound metaphor for faith and divine guidance through life's obstacles. Radiating compassion was a touchy-feely concept, but now I could see the impact on someone who never thought I would see her words. I became a believer.

Beyond Those Directly Involved

This experience highlights a truth we often forget: compassion, courage, and connection are never just about those directly involved. They create ripples that extend outward, touching lives in ways we may never know.

When we demonstrate love, resilience, or kindness visibly in the world:

1. We become living metaphors - Our actions translate abstract concepts like trust, faith, and perseverance into tangible realities others can witness and understand.

2. We provide permission - Seeing others overcome obstacles permits witnesses to face their challenges with renewed courage.

3. We plant seeds of possibility - Our visible acts of compassion expand others' understanding of what's possible in human relationships.

4. We create meaning beyond our intention - The meaning others derive from witnessing our actions may be entirely different from, yet equally valuable to, our purpose.

The Responsibility of Visibility

There's a profound responsibility in this awareness. Every day, in ways large and small, we live on a stage where unknown others are watching. A mother patiently guides her child through a public meltdown, a colleague stands up for someone being marginalized, and two people from different backgrounds find common ground—all these moments have witnesses whose lives are touched in ways we cannot measure.

This doesn't mean we should act performatively, doing good deeds only for show. Instead, it reminds us that authentic compassion, when visible, creates circles of impact.

Stories That Outlive the Moment

Perhaps most remarkable is how these witnessed moments become stories people carry with them. The runner who saw Ivan and me didn't just experience a momentary emotion; she integrated what she saw into her worldview and understanding of faith. She created a narrative that gave meaning to her challenges and aspirations.

Years later, she shared that story, extending its impact further. And now, through this article, the ripples continue to spread.

The Call to Visible Compassion

We live in a world where cynicism often seems the safer stance. Displays of genuine care and connection can feel vulnerable or even naïve. Yet my experience with Ivan—and Elizabeth's reaction to witnessing our partnership—taught me the power and necessity of visible compassion.

We weren't trying to inspire anyone when Ivan and I ran that day. We were just two Soldiers tackling a challenge together. We understood how it impacted us and how important it was to us, but the simple act of showing up for each other became much larger than we intended.

As a military officer, I was trained to consider strategic impact. But this experience taught me that our most profound impact might be the one we never planned for—the lives we touch simply by living out our commitments to each other with integrity and care.

And sometimes, when we least expect it, someone is watching. Someone is finding hope in how we live. Someone is creating meaning from our actions to sustain them through their journey. Fourteen years later, Elizabeth's reflection returned to me, completing a circle of impact.

This is the power of visible compassion: it changes not just those who give and receive it but also those who witness it. In this way, love multiplies beyond our knowing.

Lead with Love,

Doom