The global empathy crisis that confronts us this Christmas

“One-armed beggars selling pencils, but we cannot spare a dime,” goes Bobby Goldboro’s song, “Does anyone know it’s Christmas?” “Save it for the parking meter or we’ll have to pay a fine.” That classic came to mind as I scanned the current global landscape and observed an alarming shortage of empathy.

I know a little about charity and compassion. I’ve had the privilege over the last 15 years of leading a nonprofit private sector organization that specializes in helping communities and...