Touchstones a Monthly Journal Unitarian Universalism February 2021 Mercy Wisdom Story
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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.