In my experience, it is rare to find this kind of compassion and unconditional acceptance, because it's such a natural (human) response to turn away from the dark truth of another person's life. But to turn back around and love that person in spite of their darkness? Now, that is a rare gift of humanity. And I am very fortunate to have such people in my life, but they're not always the people that I have wanted or "expected" to turn back around and love me in spite of myself.
I relate to these underworld characters, although not because I identify with the "evil" nature of their dark characters, but rather because their dark character is not who they are or who they were born to be. First of all, something happened during their life time that changed them into the Werewolf, Vampire, and Ghost, so their spirits certainly weren't created this way. Secondly, there are very clear triggers that activate their dark behavior: the Werewolf only hunts when the moon is full, just as it's not until the "bloodthirst" kicks in that the Vampire needs to be restrained in some way. In the absence of the full moon and the bloodthirst, they are able to fight and resist the dark forces in their struggle to be human. And perhaps most importanly, they can't do it alone. . . .they need each other in order to successfully resist the dark forces that oppress and bind up their true spirit.
This is exactly how it is with my panic. There are triggers (some more clear than others) for the high-maintenance frantic behaviors that get activated with the panic, but that is precisely the point. . . .they get activated, so they are not my inherent nature, not who I am, but rather something that I experience because of the out-of-control biochemical systems within the flawness of my very human flesh. My spirit does not create the chaotic panic, but rather it is my body that cycles chaotically out of control.
The moment of truth is not, panicko ergo sum. . . .lol. . . .my deepest truth is, spiritus ergo sum.
OK, so my Latin needs some work. . . .lol. . . .but all joking aside, this is a very important distinction for me, because it means that the deepest truth of who I am is not the panic and the chaos that ensues, but rather the spirit of God that flows through all things, including me. And it is this fact alone that opens the door to compassion, because the people who love me are the ones who can see the truth of my spirit shining through in spite of my very human experience.
As for me, I do what I can to grow and evolve as a human being, and to find the strength to pick up and carry the cross I have to bear. But I also know that I am not alone in this stuggle, for each of us has our own cross to bear, our own human suffering, our own personal passion. But that's all compassion really is. . . .the ability to walk with the passion of another spirit in search of its deepest truth.