I have the gift of mercy. Whether it comes from having my face in the miry clay of sin most of life or because it is a God-given gift, the fact remains, I extend mercy to those whom many believe are undeserving of it. A friend recently left his wife because of an affair. It was heartbreaking news because, by all appearances, he had the quintessential marriage. In some ways, I was jealous of what they had because they shared so many common interests. My husband and I are polar opposites, but maybe there is some level of truth to the old cliché: “Opposites attract.” I felt his wife’s pain. I felt her loss. But I also understood the internal conflict and guilt he was feeling because I had been in his shoes. What did Atticus Finch say in To Kill a Mockingbird? "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." I equate it with going through cancer. No one understands what it feels like when chemotherapy hits your veins throwing you into a wall of internal chaos. No one can even fathom what it is like to throw up every time you try to eat or what it is like to see your hair on your pillow every morning. No one understands what it is like to screw up your marriage because of bad choices unless they have been through it themselves.
So I reached out my hand in encouragement to my friend, and he reached back with his feelings of guilt. I knew his heart. Is there a problem? Yes. I am often judged for showing empathy, compassion, and mercy to someone who, by the world’s standards, has screwed up their life. Therein lies the problem. When did we take God’s place and become judge and jury? Doesn’t the Bible say, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”
Showing mercy, for me, goes far beyond identifying with someone. Currently, I am doing
a Social Justice: Homelessness and Poverty theme in my ENG 101 class. I want my students to reach beyond their inner circles and into their community. I never knew when I started this journey that I would find so many students who have experienced homelessness and poverty and would be willing to share their stories with me. My heart soared but, at the same time, I felt such deep empathy for their experiences.
I have been out with the organization Streets for Christ. The leader, Ryan Ballard, wants “the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ [to] transform the lives of the homeless and encourage them towards a new direction.” His faithful warriors, who go out on the street every Friday night, strive to show unconditional love toward everyone they encounter. When I went I found it to be a powerful experience. Extending mercy changed my life, and I knew the old saying was true: “There but for the grace of God, go I.”
Recently, Sister Grace Miller, from The House of Mercy, was arrested for protesting the homeless being locked out of the Civic Center Garage, one of the only warm places in Rochester for the homeless to sleep. There are not enough shelters for the homeless population, so where are they supposed to go? "We're willing to risk arrest for the homeless that the county does not care about,” Grace Miller told the media. Sister Grace is the epitome of the gift of mercy. She was willing to go to jail for her desire to keep the homeless warm, for understanding their plight, and for meeting their needs. She is my role model for extending the mercy of God.
Having empathy, showing mercy, and being a compassionate person should be part of the human condition. Unfortunately, it is not. Many people would rather judge harshly than show mercy. My challenge to everyone reading this blog is whenever you encounter an injustice, a mistake someone has made, or anything you find offensive, put yourself in their shoes. Think before you speak. Listen to their heart. Extend your hand of mercy rather than pull it away in judgment. Two words come to mind: Unconditional Love. Also, remember these words: “There but for the Grace of God, go I.”
