(Let me get this off my chest right away: I’m rooting for Boston to win the World Series. Period. End of sentence.)
All right, I seem to be obsessing about mercy since this is part 3 of this grouping within the 100 post plan for this blog by mid January. As I piece together strands from the Scriptures and papal teachings and my own hunches, it is worth three posts about mercy - and perhaps even more - perhaps even a lifetime.
My knee jerk reaction to people who do not show mercy is that they are just self-righteous. I am frankly uncomfortable around the self-righteous. This does not mean that they are wrong, but I am uncomfortable with those who have such a level of certitude about their own opinions (not facts) that no one else gets a chance. I have seen far too many times when the self-righteous have done a lot of damage to others.
I also concede that sometimes the kindest of people, when making decisions, actually can do harm in the long run. I also also (is this proper grammar?) concede that I can be instantly self-righteous at times, usually not expressed on the outside, I hope, but quite often on the inside. It becomes almost a default position when confronted with certain types of people. Inside, I just recoil when I hear the self-righteous pontificating. Must let God sort this out.
When I am thinking hard about both mercy and not being self-righteous, I do try to just slow down - and not do the instant inside reactions - and somehow try to understand the other person. A lot of times, my instant evaluation may be on target - but I am not happy with myself.
One question I wrestle with is quite simple: How can I justify my behavior, my analyses, my reactions before God? There has to be a reason why I like statues or pictures of the Good Shepherd. There has to be a reason why I pray to Mary who unties knots. There has to be a reason why I want to make the world a better place.
As in so many things, God help me - please.
TODAY’S GRATITUDE: People who are kind and wise - and are even understanding of me.