Mercy Me!

What does it mean to be merciful?

Forgiving?
Generous?
Helpful?
Interested in healing?

Generally put, to be merciful is to be able to empathize with others and then to care enough to do something positive for them.

Probably all of us are merciful from time to time. We find a cause that strikes our hearts, or a person who, for whatever reason, becomes our lost kitten; we take them home, feed them, pour them milk and love them.

How many of us are merciful at all times and in all ways though?
Why would you want to be?

I hear it all the time, "the world is not fair", "why can't people treat each other with kindness?", "nobody smiles anymore". We are all very aware that we live in an often merciless world. We long for it to be different. Yet, for us to show mercy, in all times and in all ways would mean putting ourselves and our agendas second, often. Here's the thing though... If we agree that the world needs more healing, kindness and charity, why do we continue to choose to live outside of it ourselves?

Wouldn't we be more likely to say that the world is merciful, that we were surrounded with kindness and healing, if we choose to live that way?

It almost makes sense that if we live mercifully, we will begin to see that it is truly a merciful world. Hear me out on this. If we live at the ocean, the world is wet. If we live in the desert, the world is hot and dry. If we live at a carnival the world is loud and smells like cotton candy.

Maybe it's too simplistic, but if we want to see mercy, if we want to know that the world is a compassionate place, if we ourselves long to receive mercy, perhaps we should start by living mercifully. Maybe the merciful are as blessed through their own behavior and actions as the people to whom they show mercy.