Comments on imperfect prose: on how to live a merciful life (guest post by kath...

oh how this hums deep in me. it's so good to b...

2011-12-11T15:00:24.722-08:00

oh how this hums deep in me. it's so good to be among such company. bless you, kath. bless you, em.

spiritual means to love and be loved. HP Laserjet 1020 Driver

Thanks Em, for inviting me to share here at your p...

2011-12-10T21:11:40.928-08:00

Thanks Em, for inviting me to share here at your place. I love visiting and especially sharing in Imperfect Prose. Thanks Brandee, Brian and Sheila for your responses. They are encouraging to me.
I wrote this thinking of the way that I am only able to show mercy because it is first shown to me in Jesus. And that I can easily have pride in being merciful. I am really challenged to try to avoid 'us and them' thinking...

This sentence stopped me: "What does it mean...

2011-12-10T06:51:31.828-08:00

This sentence stopped me:

"What does it mean to live a merciful life, and then also know that I'm one of the sick, too?"

I think I'll be reflecting on it all day. Those 20 words speak volumes.

nice...i like this...jesus did not follow all the ...

2011-12-09T09:37:31.775-08:00

nice...i like this...jesus did not follow all the religeous rules...that kinda gives me hope...ha...but also through your words you challenge us to think deeper into what these scriptures are really saying...

My spiritual gift is mercy, and this post really s...

2011-12-09T09:32:38.994-08:00

My spiritual gift is mercy, and this post really spoke to me. Mercy is complicated. It requires discernment, I think, in its offering. I watch caregivers burn out because they do too much for the wrong people. I know that sentence reads like I'm callous, but I'm not. I'm merciful, but I'm also cautious. I pray and ask God: where are you sending me, Lord? To whom should I go, next, and what should I take with me? And He sends me to the right places. Because none can go everywhere. We don't want to enable (and therefore feed the addictions) of anyone. We want to help. We want to shine the light of Christ.

Mercy is also complicated because it can be difficult to ask for, let alone accept. It's hard to ask the saints in our lives to pray for us when the needs of others seem so much greater. But in asking for prayer and help (when we genuinely need it), we afford others the opportunity to participate in the work of God.

Many sides of the same word, the same mystery. Mercy. Beautiful.

Thank you again for sharing, Kath, and for hosting, Emily.