Our Humanity should be reason for Mercy

We as a people, and yes, I am including all people in this, myself standing in first place, no matter what faith is held to to or ascribed to, all, fall short in some way. We are all guilty of being not as compassionate and loving at all times as we should be. It is as though we all have been hardwired to know that being compassionate is best. But, we all judge someone unfairly at some time in our lives. We all, with no exception, have deeds in our personal history that we wish we handled some other way. But, knowing this, knowing we all fall short, can serve as a gift, a lesson, an opportunity to strive for a better attitude, to have a deeper understanding of compassion and yes, mercy towards others. Mercy, is such a beautiful thing, it is our gift to another and the only motivation to show mercy is compassion that stems from a deep love of all our fellow humans. Mercy sees nothing beyond our mutual humanity. No color, no creed, no preconceived notions of what must be manifested by the other as a rule of behavior in order to receive it from us. Mercy is unconditional love in action.

Our car died today and a young man stopped his car without a moments hesitation and pushed us to safety, his mercy towards us, his compassion, totally unconditional, he didn't know anything about us, and he didn't ask. His actions, instant and selfless, the very actions we would expect from an angel, an angel of Mercy. He put himself at risk to help us.

So when we are reminded of where we fail, and how we can be so judgemental, take no offence to it, even if the picture is painted with a broad brush, because all, every single group and/or individual within humanity has at one time, been guilty. None are without fault in such areas of unfairness and unkindness. Take the example of a wrong, not as an offense, but as a teacher, a reminder, a lesson for each of us to step above the pettiness, the personal agenda's, the "I am better than you" mind set and seek to replace all that with mercy, tenderness to even the hard of heart. Compassion to the unlovable and as a Christian, I am reminded to be more like Jesus, more like the good Samaritan. To strive to have a heart that loves even those who might persecute me, and certainly have a life that is so full of compassion that no sermon need be preached, but that the love of God so flows from my life, that others wish for that same peace in their hearts.

That man today that pushed our car for us, he spoke not much more than a dozen words. "Glad to help" "It was no problem to help" "Have a wonderful day" and that was it, but something about him, his mercy and compassion for us as we were stranded on a very busy road, made me wonder what gave him that kind of loving heart....his actions, were a profound sermon that made me want to be more like the example I see in Jesus.