Touchstones a monthly journal Unitarian Universalism February 2021 Mercy Wisdom Story

ment based on the concept of lex talionis. The Wise Sailimai This “eye for an eye” approach used the A Muslim folk tale, adapted principle of exact reciprocity. Conse- Long, long ago in China, lived a quently, the application of mercy was young woman of the Muslim Hui people exceedingly rare in the Code of Ham- whose name was Sailimai. Although she murabi, unless, however, you consider was a farm girl, too poor to attend mercy as the favor that those laws did school, Sailimai paid close attention to grant if you were free and wealthy. life around her. She may have been poor Introduction to the Theme More than a thousand years later in and unschooled, but Sailimai possessed a It is hidden. The “it” is mercy. It is the eighth century, Jewish prophets— wise and deep heart. hidden within our second principle in Amos, Hosea, and Micah—stressed jus- Once, her father-in-law, a carpenter which we affirm “justice, equity, and tice in their prophetic critique. As im- named Ali, was ordered by the emperor compassion in human relations.” Mercy portantly, Hosea (12:6) and Micah (6:8) to make some repairs in his palace. Fear- is implicit rather than explicit. It occu- stressed mercy. Tragically, no mercy ful of doing less than his best for the em- pies the space between equity and com- was shown by Nebuchadnezzar II, the peror, Ali pushed himself to work both passion. And it is informed by the prin- Chaldean king of the Neo-Babylonian day and night until he could hardly ciple of the inherent worth and dignity Empire, when he and his army de- stand. Ali accidentally tipped over the of every individual. If this were not true, stroyed Jerusalem, including the Temple emperor’s most precious vase. It mercy would seldom have any standing. of Solomon, in 586 BCE. He took the shattered—all too loudly—in the great Historically, mercy has been hidden inhabitants of Jerusalem to Babylon as hall. Servants came running. to the point of being absent in some cul- prisoners. The Babylonian exile lasted Soon enough the emperor learned tures. Most notable in this is the Code of between 50 and 70 years. (It is worth what happened and said, “Bring this Hammurabi, the Babylonian law code of noting that during the Babylonian Exile, carpenter to me at once.” Handcuffed, ancient Mesopotamia that dates back to without the Temple in which to make Ali was brought to the emperor, who 1754 BCE. The code, which consisted of (Continued on page 6) drew his sword. Ali begged, “Forgive me 282 laws, favored proportionate punish- your worship! I did not mean to break the vase. I promise to pay for it!” Mercy & Deepening Connections The emperor laughed, “A poor, old Hui could never replace such a treasure. Mercy allows us to forge deeper connections where little connection exists. Rather Do not insult me!” “Have mercy on me,” than mercy, Bryan Stevenson focuses on “just mercy” writing, “The true measure Ali begged. “I will pay.” of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcer- “Very well old Hui, I do not expect ated, and the condemned.” Stevenson adds, “…we all need mercy, we all need you to replace my vase, “said the emper- justice, and—perhaps—we all need some measure of unmerited grace.” “Just mer- or. “I will give you ten days to find me cy” and restorative justice support connections across differences like class and four things. First, find me something race. Stevenson writes, “When you experience mercy, you learn things that are blacker than the bottom of a pan. Second, hard to learn otherwise. You see things you can't otherwise see; you hear things something clearer than a mirror. Third, you can't otherwise hear. You begin to recognize the humanity that resides in each something stronger than steel. And last, of us.” Mercy allows us to drop the tribal masks of our division. something as vast as the sea. If you fail, I will chop off your head.” Touchstones is committed to exploring liberal theology. This journal is supported by Ali looked stricken. “How,” he subscriptions from Unitarian Universalist congregations. For daily meditations, pho- tos, and more visit/like Touchstones at https://www.facebook.com/Touchpossibility/ (Continued on page 2) Deepening Connections

Love is Strongest Go and Do Likewise Fierce & Merciful

(Continued from page 1) The Wise Sailimai The One Who Showed Mercy The Lantern of Soul thought, “can I do this? Does the emperor And behold, a Clarissa Pinkola Estes simply wish to torture me for the last ten lawyer stood My friends, do not lose heart. We were days of my life?” up to put him made for these times. I have heard from so Ali could neither eat nor sleep, but to the test, say- many recently who are deeply and proper- said nothing to his family. “Please fa- ing, “Teacher, ly bewildered. They are concerned about ther,” Sailimai asked, calling her father-in what shall I do the state of affairs in our world now. Ours -law by the customary term of respect, to inherit eter- is a time of almost daily astonishment and “what is wrong?” Begging and pleading, nal life?” often righteous rage over the latest degra- Sailimai at last coaxed Ali into talking. He said to dations of what matters most to civilized, He wept as he listed the emperor’s four him, “What is visionary people. impossible tasks. But Sailimai responded, written in the …In any dark time, there is a tendency “This isn’t a problem! Father, don’t wor- law? How do to veer toward fainting over how much is ry. I will have all these things when the you read?” wrong or unmended in the world. Do not emperor comes tomorrow.” And he an- focus on that. There is a tendency, too, to “Don’t be silly, Sailimai,” Ali warned, swered, “You shall love the Lord your fall into being weakened by dwelling on “these things do not exist.” Sailimai per- God with all your heart, and with all what is outside your reach, by what can- sisted. “Father, tomorrow I will show your soul, and with all your mind; and not yet be. Do not focus there. them to both you and the emperor!” your neighbor as yourself.” …Ours is not the task of fixing the en- The next day the emperor appeared at And he said to him, “You have an- tire world all at once, but of stretching out Ali’s door, “Old Hui! Come forward and swered right; do this, and you will to mend the part of the world that is with- give what I asked for.” live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, in our reach. Any small, calm thing that Ali came outside with Sailimai. They said to Jesus. “And who is my neigh- one soul can do to help another soul, to both bowed humbly. Sailimai then said, bor?” assist some portion of this poor suffering “The four things you requested are ready Jesus replied, “A man was going world, will help immensely. It is not given to be presented. Please name them one by down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he to us to know which acts or by whom, will one.” “The first thing, “said the emperor, fell among robbers, who stripped him cause the critical mass to tip toward an “is that which is blacker than the bottom half dead. Now by chance a priest was enduring good. of a pan.” Sailimai said, “This can be going down the road; and when he saw What is needed for dramatic change is found in the bottomless, greedy heart.” him, he passed by on the other side. So an accumulation of acts, adding, adding The emperor hid his surprise. This likewise, a Levite, when he came to the to, adding more, continuing. We know poor farm girl cannot be so smart. He place and saw him, passed on the other that it does not take everyone on Earth to nodded, “The next thing you must pre- side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, bring justice and sent is something more clear than a mir- came to where he was; and when he peace, but only a ror. Do you have that?” he asked. Saili- saw him, he had compassion, and went small, determined mai answered, “Yes, knowledge offers a to him and bound up his wounds, group who will clarity greater than any mirror.” pouring on oil and wine; then he set not give up during The emperor looked dumbstruck. him on his own beast and brought him the first, second, or “Well,” he stammered, “Do you have to an inn, and took care of him. And the hundredth gale. something stronger than steel to give next day he took out two denari and …To display me?” “Love,” said Sailimai, “is the gave them to the innkeeper, saying, the lantern of soul strongest thing in the world.” Knowing “Take care of him; and whatever more in shadowy times he had been bested, the emperor stood you spend, I will repay you when I like these—to be speechless. “And what do you have, that come back.” fierce and to show could possibly be as vast as the sea?” he Which of these three, do you think, mercy toward asked. “A virtuous heart that shows mer- proved neighbor to the man who fell others; both are cy is as vast as the sea, your majesty.” among robbers?” He said, “The one acts of immense Humbled, the emperor said as he left, who showed mercy on him.” bravery and great- “Old Hui, you are pardoned!” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do est necessity. Sailimai held her father-in-law’s hand. likewise.” Together, they bowed in relief and grati- Source: https:// www.awakin.org/ tude to Allah. Source: Luke 10: 25-37 read/view.php?tid=2195 Source: http://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/ children/lovesurrounds/session1/169846.shtml 2 Readings from the Common Bowl Day 18: “Grace accepts a person as some- one worthy of kindness despite whatever Day 1: “Every one of Day 10: “For Mercy has a human heart / grime or hard-shell casing keeps him or us is, in the cosmic Pity, a human face: / And Love, the human her separated from the rest of the world. perspective, precious. form divine, / And Peace, the human Grace is a gift of tender mercy when it If a human disagrees dress.” William Blake makes the least sense.” Charles R. Swindoll with you, let him live. Day 11: “I don’t ever want to live in a Day 19: “Computers are like Old In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not world where something like mercy...or Testament gods; lots of rules and no find another.” Carl Sagan maybe it’s compassion...is the wrong mercy.” Joseph Campbell

Day 2: “And what does the Lord require choice.” Jonathan Maberry Day 20: “Two things in life are infinite; the of you? To act justly and to love mercy Day 12: “...and Heaven have mercy on us stupidity of man and the mercy of God.” and to walk humbly with your God.” all—Presbyterians and Pagans alike—for G.I. Gurdjieff Micah 6:8 we are all somehow dreadfully cracked Day 21: “Do not just seek happiness for Day 3: “Religion carries two sorts of peo- about the head, and sadly need mending.” yourself. Seek happiness for all. Through ple in two entirely opposite directions: the Herman Melville kindness. Through mercy.” David Levithan mild and gentle people it carries towards Day 13: “Blessed are the merciful: for mercy and justice; the persecuting people Day 22: “To show mercy is not naïve. To every act of love and caring is returned to it carries into fiendish, sadistic cruelty.” hold out against the end of hope is not us one hundred-fold. A universal law of Alfred North Whitehead stupidity or madness. It is fundamentally every human philosophy teaches us to human. …You may think I’m stupid, you Day 4: “The world will give you that once love our neighbor as we would ourselves may call me a madman and a fool, but at in a while, a brief timeout; the boxing bell be loved.” Jeff Liebmann least I stand upright in a fallen world.” rings and you go to your corner, where Day 14: “To protect what is wild is to pro- Rick Yancey somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up tect what is gentle. Perhaps the wilderness life.” Sue Monk Kidd Day 23: “Be grateful for small mercies.” we fear is the pause between our own Alexandra Adornetto Day 5: “Rats and roaches live by heartbeats, the silent space that says we Day 24: “Those who feel no need for competition under the laws of supply and live only by grace. Wilderness lives by this mercy usually never seek it and almost demand; it is the privilege of human same grace. Wild mercy is in our hands.” never bestow it.” Jeffery R. Holland beings to live under the laws of justice and Terry Tempest Williams mercy.” Wendell Berry Day 25: “I have always found that

Day 6: “Mercy, I think, doesn’t mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” Abraham Lincoln the human race know any- thing about mercy?” Day 26: “To be able to laugh and Charles Bukowski to be merciful are the only things

Day 7: “10 percent of any that make man better than the population is cruel, no matter beast.” Ruskin Bond

what, and 10 percent is Day 27: “That’s what mercy is… merciful, no matter what, and it’s choosing to help, or forgive, or the remaining 80 percent can love even when it goes against all be moved in either direction.” logic.” Laura Anderson Kurk Susan Sontag Day 28: “My father always told Day 8: “The longer I live, the me that in this world we are more I read, the more patiently I think, Day 15: “Mercy is the stuff you give to going to make a truckload of mistakes, but and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I people that don’t deserve it.” Joyce Meyer the best mistake we can ever make is to err seem to know.... Do justly. Love mercy. on the side of mercy.” Joan Bauer Walk humbly. This is enough.” Day 16: “We have not yet encountered any John Adams god who is as merciful as a man who flicks Day 29: “You are merciful... when you

a beetle over on its feet.” Annie Dillard forgive in others the faults you condemn Day 9: “Only the man who has had to face in yourself.” Nikhil Saluja despair is really convinced that he needs Day 17: “Your heart has to be prepared mercy. Those who do not want mercy nev- ahead of time through faith and prayer Day 30: “I believe in peace. I believe in er seek it. …A life that is without problems and grace and mercy and love and for- mercy.” Malala Yousafzai

may literally be more hopeless than one giveness so you can keep your heart open Day 31: “Love, Mercy, and Grace, sisters that always verges on despair.” in hell, when hell happens.” Richard Rohr all, attend your wounds of silence and Thomas Merton hope.” Aberjhani

3 … What is re- what matters in this life, then we learn quired of us? To do that we must stop by the Jericho roadside justly and to love again and again and again. mercy. We are called … “Love mercy,” says Micah to us, to be the instruments and isn’t he saying please be careful of of justice and mercy the narrow limits we set upon one anoth- in this world. “There is no one but us.” er. Be careful of the strictness by which To Love Mercy …What is required of us, what ulti- we judge one another. Watch for the zeal Rev. Gary E. Smith mately matters in this world, what will with which we become all puffed up “The quality of mercy is not strain’d,” we make of our lives, this span of years with our own self-righteousness. Love says Portia to Shylock in Shakespeare’s we are given? Life rushes on. It does not mercy, for God’s sake. Mercy… seasons Merchant of Venice…. “It droppeth as the stop. “Love mercy,” says Micah…. … the strict justice we might wish to inflict gentle rain from heaven upon the place Other translations say, “love kindness” on another. “Spirit of Life come unto me. beneath. It is twice bless’d: it blesseth or “love loyalty.” Weave all three words Sing in my heart all the stirrings of com- him that gives and him that takes.… It is together, mercy, kindness and loyalty, passion.” What is the face of this Spirit of an attribute to God himself; and earthly and what emerges …is the fabric of com- Life? It could be the face of one whose power doth then show likest God’s, passion, a quality of asking nothing in mercy you need in these days, who has when mercy seasons justice.… We do return…. “Love mercy,” says Micah, and some absolutely justifiable reason to pray for mercy,” she says, “and that same … remember … the word “mercy,” in the want to hurt you, make you pay, and prayer doth teach us all to render the story of the Good Samaritan, in the walk who instead resists inflicting harm, and deeds of mercy.” along the Jericho Road. even more than that, extends to you a “You know what is good,” Micah says, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus is asked, gesture of kindness. It is undeserved. It is “and what is required of you, but to do and Jesus tells the story of the man walk- unexpected. It is a moment of grace and justly, and to love mercy, and to walk ing along the road from Jerusalem to Jeri- of loving mercy, bringing some of us to humbly with your God.” cho, where he is beaten, robbed, and left our knees. …[I]t’s interesting …what Micah puts for dead. The priest goes by, the Levite …Rilke writes…, “Flare up like flame first, in fact, what he puts first and sec- goes by; the Samaritan does not go by. and make big shadows I can move in.” ond, and then what he saves for last. The The Samaritan is moved with pity, he Mercy can move in us like a big shadow, first two, do justly and love mercy, have bandages the wounds and takes care of and who knows what our lives can be- to do with our relationships, one human him. “Which of these was the neighbor?” come? “We do pray for mercy,” says being to another. It is only the third in Jesus asks the disciples. “The one who Shakespeare, “and that same prayer does which he explicitly puts in the relation- showed mercy,” reply the disciples. Peter teach us all to render the deeds of mer- ship with God, with whatever the holy is Fleck answered Jesus’ very same ques- cy,” which is to say, when we had in your life. To do justly and to love mer- tion…. “Our neighbor is not necessarily thought all along that our prayers to God cy …has everything to do with how we somebody we like,” Peter said, “nor would bring mercy, our prayers will only live out our lives with one another. somebody we admire or are beholden to, be made manifest in our deeds, precisely Annie Dillard, writing in Holy the not somebody who might one day be when we come to love mercy. Firm, asks the question, “Who shall as- useful to us or who happens to be living “We cannot merely pray to you, O cend into the hill of the Lord? Or who next door. Our neighbor is anybody who God,” says a prayer in the Kerem Shalom shall stand in his holy place? There is no needs us.” prayer book, “for we must find our own one but us,” she says. “There is no one to … “Love mercy….” Micah did not say, paths… Therefore, we pray instead for send, nor a clean hand, nor a pure heart “be merciful” or “do mercy.” He said strength, determination, and willpower, on the face of the earth, nor in the earth, “love mercy,” which …means take mercy to do, instead of just to pray, to become, but only us, a generation comforting our- into yourself and embrace it. Don’t let it instead of merely to wish.” “Who shall selves with the notion that we have come go. Let mercy become a part of who you stand in God’s holy place?” Annie at an awkward time [and do you hear the are. And, if you do this, you will learn Dillard says, “There is no one but us. irony?], that our innocent fathers are all something about forgiveness and for- There is no one to send… but only us… dead—as if innocence had ever been— bearance. we ourselves unfit, not yet ready, having and our children busy and troubled, and … “Love mercy,” says Micah, and the each of us chosen wrongly, made a false we ourselves unfit, not yet ready, having loving part says … that this is not just a start, failed, yielded to impulse and the each of us chosen wrongly, made a false one-time kind of thing, as in “we stopped tangled comfort of pleasures, and grown start, failed, yielded to impulse and the once along the road for a neighbor, and exhausted…. But there is no one but us.” tangled comfort of pleasures, and grown now we’ve done that.” When we know … [W]e are the ones to love mercy. We exhausted, unable to seek the thread, how to love mercy, when we say in our are instruments to one another of our weak, and involved. But there is no one very bones that to love mercy is some- own salvation. but us. There never has been.” how required of us, that this is a piece of

4 Family Matters Horton Hears a Who! order to stop Horton, she arranges to Traveling Mercies: Why I Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat have Vlad Vlad-I-Koff, a large and rag- Make Sam Go to Church ged black-bottomed eagle, to get rid of …[T]he ...screen adaptation of Dr. Anne LaMott the particle. Seuss’ 1954 children’s book Horton Hears Sam is the only kid he knows of who …Back in Who-ville, the Mayor tries a Who! …delivers many ethical messages goes to church, who is made to go to to deal with his own problems…. But his … about tolerance, caring, service to church two or three times a month. He biggest challenge is to convince his con- all…. rarely wants to. This is not exactly true. The truth is he never wants to go. What 7-year-old would rather be in church than hang- ing out with a friend? It does not help him to be reminded that once he’s there he enjoys himself, that he gets to spend the time drawing in the little room out- side the sanctuary, that he only actually has to sit still and listen during the short children’s sermon. It does not help that I always pack some snacks, some Legos, his art supplies, and any friend of his whom we can lure into our churchy web. It does not help that he genuinely cares for the people there. … …You might wonder why I make this strapping, exuberant boy come with me…. I make him because I can. I outweigh him by nearly 75 pounds. At the center of the story is Horton…, stituents that they are in danger; after But that is only part of it. The main a caring elephant who … lives in the all, nothing in Who-ville had ever gone reason is that most of the people I jungle of Nool…. One day he hears a wrong. know who are doing well psychologi- noise coming from a tiny speck of dust …Watch closely how this story deals cally, who seem conscious, …who have floating past him. Through patience and with the villainy of Kangaroo, who tries what I want—connection, gratitude, curiosity, Horton eventually learns that to make sure that Horton’s mission of joy—are people in community. And this little particle houses a city named mercy ends in disaster. this funky little church. It is where I Source: https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ Who-ville inhabited by many tiny citi- films/films.php?id=17936 was taken in when I had nothing to zens led by the Mayor. The elephant, For information about the film go to https:// give, and it has become in the truest, who is known for his faithfulness www.rottentomatoes.com/m/horton-hears-a- deepest sense, my home. My home- (always 100%), decides that it is his mis- who2008 base. sion to save the speck. His personal Family Activity: Kindness …Believe me, church was the last creed is “a person’s a person no matter place I would have ever imagined Watch the movie or read the book. See a how small.” wanting to be; and so I understand video (17:10) of a reading of the book by Even though they cannot see each why now it is the last place Sam wants Praise Church at https:// other and are in completely different to be. I think he would almost rather vimeo.com/251748181. Discuss who is and alien worlds, Horton and the Mayor spend Sunday mornings getting his kind and who is not, and why. Then establish a caring relationship based on teeth cleaned. discuss how we respond to kindness, trust and …listening. Horton tenderly “Let’s go, baby,” I say cheerfully and how we respond when we are not places the speck on a clover flower and when it is time for us to leave for treated kindly, and why. Why did Hor- sets out to find it a safe place to reside. church, and he looks up at me like a ton do what he did? …Horton faces a formidable obstacle puppy eyeing the vet who is standing You might want to consult a discus- in Kangaroo, a power-hungry do-gooder there holding the needle. sion resource for the book at https:// who winces when she learns that Hor- www.prindleinstitute.org/books/horton- ton believes he has made contact with a Source: Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott hears-a-who/ realm that he can’t see or touch. …In 5 Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly Tender Gravity

(Continued from page 1) application. As such “laws are not de- Kindness [as Mercy] sacrifices, Passover began a transfor- signed” writes Unitarian Universalist Naomi Shihab Nye mation that led to some additions to the minister Charlotte Cowtan, “to deal with Before you know what kindness really is Passover Seder that have survived to this particulars, with special contingencies, or you must lose things, day, including the presence of an egg on individual circumstances. When …equity feel the future dissolve in a moment the Passover plate as a symbol of the and law are in conflict, our human system like salt in a weakened broth. Temple sacrifices that were no longer pos- of law is designed to give precedence to What you held in your hand, sible.) Both ancient and recent history equity.” Justitia, the Roman goddess of what you counted and carefully saved, attests to the fact that the human experi- justice, is traditionally portrayed as hold- all this must go so you know ment has struggled with justice, and even ing the scales of justice and a sword, and how desolate the landscape can be more so with mercy. wearing a blindfold to ensure that justice between the regions of kindness. In Hebrew, the word hesed (or chesed) is is handed out equally without fear or fa- How you ride and ride variously translated as “mercy,” vor. Equity requires that Lady Justice lift thinking the bus will never stop, “lovingkindness,” “steadfast love,” the blindfold enough to see the particu- the passengers eating maize and chicken “compassion,” and even “goodness.” lars of a situation and then temper judg- will stare out the window forever. Commenting on Micah 6:8, biblical schol- ment accordingly. Equity recommends Before you learn the tender gravity of kind- ar P.J. King suggested that “hesed is the judicial leniency as the means to achieve a ness, response made not out of duty but out of more perfect justice than would be possi- you must travel where the Indian in a white love.” ble without it. Equity acknowledges that poncho Classical philosopher Martha Nuss- objective judgment is elusive such that in lies dead by the side of the road. baum in her essay Equity and Mercy draws a specific case all may be better served by You must see how this could be you, a distinction between strict justice (in situational judgment. As one writer ob- how he too was someone Greek known as dike) and a concept of served, “equity allows the spirit of the who journeyed through the night with justice (epieikeia) that is conditioned by law to override the letter of the law.” plans both equity and mercy. The influence of Mercy seeks to go beyond law and eq- and the simple breath that kept him alive. Seneca (c. 4 BCE – 65 CE), a Roman phi- uity to compassion. G.W. Rainbolt consid- Before you know kindness as the deepest losopher, on Nussbaum is significant. She ers mercy an independent, imperfect vir- thing inside, argues in favor of the Senecan ideal of a tue that tempers justice. This is remarka- you must know sorrow as the other deepest merciful justice which also considers the ble, he concludes, because no one has a thing. perpetrator’s story and all the particulars right to mercy. In fact, mercy is often You must wake up with sorrow. of the case, and which then reacts with granted where severity is merited. S. H. You must speak to it till your voice mildness and sympathy, rather than with Hodgson defined mercy as “the justice of catches the thread strict proportionality. In his two-volume Love.” of all sorrows essay on mercy (De Clementia) written to The impulse toward mercy requires and you see the and for Nero, Seneca placed a particular empathy. One must have some sense of size of the cloth. responsibility on the ruler to resist anger the reality and struggle of the person, as Then it is only and show mercy. Obviously, Nero was well as the impact on his or her future if kindness that not a very good student. mercy is extended, because the fruits of makes sense any- Mercy is always tied to justice, for if no mercy are often amazing. At root, mercy more, punishment is involved then mercy is not is enshrined in the Golden Rule, “Do unto only kindness that necessary. Of this, ethicist Rushworth other as you would have others do unto ties your shoes Kidder (How Good People Make Tough you,” but there is a greater truth than this: and sends you out Choices) made a thoughtful distinction. He “Do unto others as you would have oth- into the day to mail wrote, “Compelled to choose between ers do unto you, because the other is letters and pur- justice and mercy, I would (all things be- you.” The prophet Micah got it right so chase bread, ing equal) stick with mercy, which to me long ago. To love mercy is to value it only kindness that raises its head speaks of love and compassion. One rea- highly. To love mercy is to understand its from the crowd of the world to say son: I can imagine a world so full of love redemptive power precisely because we it is I you have been looking for, that justice, as we now know it, would no do not deserve mercy. To love mercy is to and then goes with you everywhere longer be necessary. But I cannot imagine offer it when it makes the least sense. To like a shadow or a friend. a world so full of justice that there would love mercy is to love. no longer be any need for love.” Source: http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/ Justice seeks to apply laws impartially kindness in order to be consistent and fair in their 6 All the Days of Life Mercy Over Justice Seeing Beyond Faults Have Mercy The Beatitude of Mercy Mercy Personified Rev. Marlin Lavanhar The Beatitudes are the eight blessings Kate Starr & Rev. Tamara Lebak Laurence Sterne wrote: “We may in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gos- Drug dealers and pimps, burglars and imitate the Deity in all his moral attrib- pel of Matthew attributed to Jesus where wife batterers who have served their time, utes, but mercy is the only one in which he said, “Blessed are the merciful for think Mercy is nothing but the janitor at we can pretend to equal him. We cannot they shall obtain mercy.” The picture their half-way house, which Mercy actual- indeed, give like God, but surely we below where the woman is breaking a ly owns and operates. And that’s fine by may forgive like him.” sword calls for mercy more than justice. him. They tend to talk more, he says, if Mercy involves power. To show they believe he’s no better than they are. mercy to you, I must have something to Mercy has a gift—the ability to pardon offer you that I can choose to either give a person’s past. He sees beyond prison- or withhold. Mercy is a way of using yard muscles and amateur tattoos, behind our power to show love and compas- the façade of hateful, scared eyes and into sion. Most importantly, mercy is offered the center of hardened hearts where eve- whether a person deserves it or not. In ryone still seems innocent and blameless. this sense mercy runs counter to justice. Mercy gives his gift freely to average If justice is about making things fair people in common situations too – angry and giving someone her due, mercy in- drivers in traffic, a sour waitress, the man volves offering love and forgiveness who follows him at the hardware store, even when a person may rightly deserve the teenager who locks her doors when to be punished or shunned. An impov- she sees Mercy crossing the intersection, erished employee who steals from his name callers, the media, the government. boss to feed his hungry children could Mercy is a pen pal to hundreds of in- justifiably be fired or put in jail. Howev- mates, and answers Santa letters from er, being merciful might entail dropping kids of the incarcerated. His grammar is the charges and even giving the worker bad and his spelling is poor. The son of a a raise in his hourly wage. share-cropper, Mercy did field work in- ...The Truth and Reconciliation Com- stead of homework. At age 16 he joined mission in modern South Africa is a The Tiffany windows in the Arling- the Army where he eventually served as a great example of the power of mercy. ton Street Church (Unitarian Universal- medic. Mercy was known to have com- When South African apartheid ended, ist) are famous for their beauty of de- passion so deep he would even help a there was a decision by those in power sign and execution and are believed to man die to end his suffering. not to seek justice alone. They decided be the largest collection of Tiffany win- On Saturday nights, Mercy changes his the country would benefit more by dows in any one church. They follow a work boots for white patent leather danc- knowing the truth than from exacting general plan adopted in 1898 and were ing shoes and a spin with the ladies at the punishment for the crimes of the past. installed between 1898 and 1933. local VFW hall. His matching suit makes So they gave amnesty to the perpetra- The windows represent the highest for a dramatic contrast to his ageless eb- tors who committed violence and crime development of American art in glass. ony skin. during apartheid if those people shared Special Tiffany techniques were used, The trumpeter who plays swing tunes the truth about what they had done. In such as painting certain details and has encouraged him to host a weekly other words, at that point in their histo- multiple layers of opalescent glass to coffeehouse for musicians, slam poets, ry, South Africans regarded mercy and achieve desired shades of color and rappers, blues singers, and other original truth as higher values than justice. Such Tiffany’s unique creation of folds and performers of all kinds. It’s a place of in- a rare achievement of mercy takes faith drapes. spiration and hope, an alternative to in humankind and the power of love The windows in the galleries, illus- drugs and street life. and forgiveness. trative of the Beatitudes, were designed Someday, Mercy would like to be a As human beings we all fumble and by Frederick Wilson. The windows on foster parent. He thinks he could save fail sometimes and in the process, we the main floor are from designs by lives – change them early with love, not are truly fortunate when those we have different artists. All of the windows correct them later with punishment. Mer- wronged give us a second chance or an were made under the supervision of cy would give them a second chance. And opportunity to try again. In the words of Mr. Louis Comfort Tiffany and Mr. a third … and a fourth … As many as they the Psalmist: “May goodness and mercy Edward S. George. needed. Whether they deserved it or not. follow you all the days of your life.” Source: Simple Gifts, All Souls Journal, May 2008 Source: Simple Gifts, All Souls Journal, May Source: http://www.ascboston.org/about/ 2008 building.html 7 Small Group Discussion Guide To Brave to Die

Theme for Discussion Thus, as the supreme judge in your own Moment of Mercy court, you must have compassion for your- Mercy When the fog self. Otherwise, cede your gavel.” lifted, the Union Preparation prior to Gathering: (Read this Vera Nazarian soldiers made issue of the journal and Living the Questions their attack. It in the next column.) Living the Questions: Explore as many of was December,

theses questions as time allows. Fully ex- 1862, and Business: Deal with any housekeeping plore one question before moving on. General items (e.g., scheduling the next gathering). 1. What were you taught about mercy as a Ambrose E.

child? How have those lessons in- Burnside’s men Opening Words: “I always knew that deep formed your actions throughout your were ready to down in every human heart, there is mercy life? storm Fredericksburg—but the Confeder- and generosity. No one is born hating an- 2. Have you ever needed mercy from an- ates had other plans in mind. In a surprise other person because of the color of his kin, other? What were the circumstances? attack, the Rebels rained down gunfire or his background, or his religion. People Did you receive mercy or not? How did until nearly 6,300 Union soldiers lay dead must learn to hate, and if they can learn to the experience affect your understand- or wounded. As the echoes of muskets hate, they can be taught to love, for love ing of mercy, both given and received? faded, the moaning of dying men filled the comes more naturally to the human heart 3. What makes it hard for people to be cold December night. than the opposite.” Nelson Mandela merciful toward others? When the dawn broke, the cries of ago-

4. When should mercy be given? When ny were too much for 19-year-old Confed- Chalice Lighting (James Vila Blake) (adapted) should it be withheld? erate Sergeant Richard R. Kirkland. He (In unison) Love is the spirit of this church, and 5. Some suggest that mercy makes a went to his commander and said, “Sir, I’d service is its law. This is our covenant: to dwell mockery of justice. Dou you agree or like to take those boys water.” His com- together in peace, to seek the truth in love, to disagree? Why? mander replied, “Son, you’re a dang fool.” serve human need, and to help one another. 6. What are the connections that you Kirkland jumped the wall, where he

would draw between justice, equity, was instantly greeted by a hail of gunfire. Check-In: How is it with your spirit? What compassion, and mercy? As he leaned over a wounded Union Sol- do you need to leave behind in order to be 7. Why should we “love mercy?” dier and raised a canteen to his lips, the fully present here and now? (2-3 sentences) The facilitator or group members are invited Union commander looked on at the mis-

to propose additional questions that they sion of mercy. In awe, he raised his hand Claim Time for Deeper Listening: This would like to explore. and shouted down the line, “Don’t shoot comes at the end of the gathering where you that man! He’s too brave to die.” can be listened to uninterrupted for more Deeper Listening: If time was claimed by time if needed. You are encouraged to claim Sculptor: Terry Jones individuals, the group listens without inter- time ranging between 3-5 minutes, and to Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ ruption to each person who claimed time. honor the limit of the time that you claim. File:Moment_of_Mercy_(3412860347).jpg

Checking-Out: One sentence about where Read the Wisdom Story: Take turns reading you are now as a result of the time spent Attribution for Images aloud parts of the story on page 1. Page 2: The Good Samaritan, photo by Ted, Novem- together exploring the theme. ber 12, 2011, (CC BY-SA 2.0), https://www.flickr.com/ photos/frted/6337807749 Readings from the Common Bowl: Group Extinguishing Chalice Page 2: Lantern, photo by Krzysztof Dzwonek from members read selections from Readings from Pixabay (Elizabeth Selle Jones) (In unison) the Common Bowl (page 3). Leave a few mo- Page 3: Round Melon Shape Bowl, by Wicker Para- We extinguish this flame but not the light of dise, August 25, 2013, (CC BY 2.0), https:// ments of silence after each to invite reflec- truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of www.flickr.com/photos/wicker-furniture/9592646138 tion on the meaning of the words. commitment. These we carry in our hearts until Page 3: The Good Smartian, photo by falco from Pixabay we are together again. Sitting In Silence: Sit in silence together, Page 5: horton_hears_a_who, by Marco, October 19, 2008, (CC BY 2.0), https://www.flickr.com/photos/ allowing the Readings from the Common Bowl Closing Words Rev. Philip R. Giles zi1217/3012659568 to resonate. Cultivate a sense of calm and Page 6: Kwan Yin: Chinese Goddess of Mercy & (In unison) May the attention to the readings and the discussion Compassion, photo by xlibber, July 7, 2013, (CC BY quality of our lives be 2.0), https://www.flickr.com/photos/xlibber/9233858094 that follows (Living the Questions). our benediction and a Page 7: Blessed Are the Merciful, 1920, by Sharon

blessing to all we Mollerus, May 11, 2018, (CC BY 2.0), https:// Reading: “You cannot be fair to others www.flickr.com/photos/clairity/27357209647 touch. without first being fair to yourself. Know Page 8: Moment of Mercy, photo by Claire H, April 2, 2009, (CC BY-SA 2.0), https:// that a well-honed sense of justice is a meas- commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moment_of_Mercy_ ure of personal experience, and all experi- (3412860347).jpg ence is a measure of self. Know that the 8 highest expression of justice is mercy.