Gotcha!

Jesus said, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36

REFLECTION:

The word "mercy" or "merciful" appears 294 times in the Bible.

Many of these appearances of the word are in command form; encouraging us to embody this divine characteristic in our dealings with others.

Mercy seems to be a lost art...and I have a hunch as to why.

Because sensational news headlines are the tools used by media outlets to compete with each other, there is great incentive for those media outlets to make their headlines ever more sensational. This has the long term effect of creating a "gotcha" culture in which the worst possible intent is assumed behind every action, every statement, and every misstep.

Public figures can't just make a mistake...there must be a conspiracy behind each act.

Public figures can't just grow and change their minds on things...we label that as "flip-flopping."

This is our steady diet, and we are getting unhealthy. It's like eating junk food three meals a day for years. It's actually poisonous to our collective life...and it does away with mercy.

Today, I am feeling challenged by this divine characteristic (mercy) to act a little counter-culturally. I am feeling like it is time for a subversive underground movement of mercy. I am feeling like we, in the church, can begin this movement by committing to assume positive intent behind the actions of others.

So, try this...the next time someone does something you think is strange, or off-putting, or wrong, try assuming that they didn't mean it as poorly as it seemed to you. Think of yourself. Do you often INTEND to offend others? Do you often INTEND to make waves and upset others? I would guess not. So, offer the same assumption to others...they probably didn't MEAN to offend you, or upset you, or make that mistake. Assume positive intent. Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.

PRAYER:
God, give us the courage to let go of our easy and momentarily-satisfying judgments of others. Give us the strength to see them as people as complex as we are. Help us to be merciful, and to assume that just as we are doing our best, so they are doing their best. Let your mercy and love fill us today, and spill out on those who frustrate us. Amen.