Article August 29, 2005 Issue

Where's mercy when you really need it?

Warren Bolon with contributions from BEA ROEGGE

Mercy is like dew—ordinary in its coming (it comes every day without being asked and doesn't trumpet its arrival), and yet extraordinary in its revivifying effects. It gives new energy to our lives and new strength to our hearts. The Bible likens a king's favor to "dew upon the grass," and compares God's lessons to "the small rain upon the tender herb." Well, mercy can come as unexpected gift, or as a directive that challenges us to go spiritually farther, or deeper, or wider with our affections. Such favors and lessons come from God's artesian spring called love. And mercy is like dew in one more way: Sometimes we have to bend low to see it clearly, to be lifted up in its amazing beauty. Warren Bolon talks with BEA ROEGGE about divine mercy.

Anyone in the room could see it wasn't a casually tossed-off idea. A couple of weeks ago, a colleague suggested that we do an issue focused on mercy. She wasn't talking about the mercy that we sometimes give to other human beings, as meaningful as merciful acts of human kindness can be. Her request came more as a question, and out of the depths of a thorny challenge. "What is God's mercy," she asked, "and is it present even when we don't feel it?"

Bea Roegge, a teacher and practitioner of Christian Science healing in Chicago, is someone who knows mercy as more than a beautiful Biblical word. I've known Bea a long time, and we always find something to laugh about when we talk, but I also know her well enough to understand that her joy and resilience come from somewhere way beyond personal resources, from that loving Father-Mother who sees us through life's trials.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The power of divine mercy