The early church is a great example of this reality. The main way they were able to care so deeply for those who were suffering is because they were embedded in a strong communal system. The answer is not more independent care, but more care on recognizing our dependence on each other.

Being expoed to this reality to the degree those in the helping profession are, ultimately leads to compassion fatigue. The very extreme nature of this call from the other means we need strong communal and institutional support which is severely lacking in the West/

We were designed to be exposed to the other in a way that places a sense of responsibility for their suffering on us. This exposes our vulnerability and passiveness to the other that is outside of our control. In the face to face encounter with the other we are called to respond.This traumatizes us/