LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — “How do you define compassion? ‘It’s an aspect of the face of love.'”
That’s Will Rucker with Marianne Williamson, former presidential candidate and author known for spiritual teachings.
This conversation is one he conducts outside of his work as a spokesperson for Intermountain Health and this is, he believes, community work with the podcast “Compassionate Las Vegas.”
“We’re sharing how to be compassionate, the steps to live a stress-less life, if that’s such a thing. So many great resources, and tools and so many inspirational stories. We highlight hope. We provide inspiration. We amplify love,” says Rucker.
Born out of the pandemic, this project was developed to bring people together during a time, he believes, we needed more shared experiences in a reimagined way.
“I knew people needed to feel connected and to find hope. Las Vegas is a compassionate city. We just became a hopeful city, and in the pandemic, those are the two things that allowed us to get through a difficult time,” Rucker recalls
His guests often speak about getting through hardship.
“Forgiveness is the only way I know to cut the cord that attaches you to pain,” says Scarlett Lewis, interviewed in an episode, describing her journey to forgiveness after her son, Jesse, was murdered in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“Instead of wallowing in despair, which she had every right to do, instead of being angry and dehumanize the shooter, she looked at Jesse’s message, which is to choose love,” explains Will. Lewis’ non-profit further explains the origin story of Jesse’s message, now a mantra for the Choose Love Movement.
“She’s taken in that message and giving and gifting it to the world as a curriculum for students to understand how to love, how to forgive, how to live with compassion, how to live with intention and purpose,” Rucker adds.
Rucker underscores his purpose with the podcast, interviewing people from a variety of backgrounds, to remind us of our own ability to find compassion.
