I thought I knew and followed everything in the Bible to the tee. Until I bumped into the verse:
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy".
I've always bumped into the verse, thinking I'm the most merciful person in the world (OK, maybe not in the world, but at least I have enough mercy to win a Nobel Peace Prize). I thought I had saintly mercy. I always forgive those who hurt me (at least I try to), I'm kind to my colleagues, I have empathy to the sick and dying I see on TV,... I thought I was overwhelmingly merciful.
Until I faced the real me. Someone was on the verge of being fired. He had really abused his position, and the bosses had had enough. They wanted him out. As I heard the story, I felt so sad. I really empathized with the person. I knew he deserved to go, but I felt like maybe, the bosses should give him a second chance. They shouldn't fire him so soon. He's a man with a family to maintain. He has bills to pay. Oh, they should have mercy on the man and just give him a second chance.
Then a thought flooded through me: if I were the boss, would I have sustained him? Would I have the guts to retain him and tolerate his behaviour? Am I requiring too much of others, that I can't do? Was I being genuinely merciful, or just pitiful? And if I sustain him, won't I be abusing mercy?
That really opened my eyes. What is mercy? How is it given? Is it different from pity? When is it given? Am I as merciful as I thought I was?
Well, I resolved then, to learn mercy. To know what it really means. To not abuse it, or not thump myself on the chest coz I'm practising it. And I ask the Holy Spirit to help me in this endeavour.
