The Peace ProjectSample

Day Seven: Getting to Why

One of the perks that come with having a mom who lives close by is that when she was buying fall wreaths for her door, she bought one for mine.

I was backing out of our driveway when she pulled up behind me and lightly honked. My son and I stopped what we were doing, begged her to come in, and enjoyed hanging the wreath with her before she was on to the next thing.

Moments matter.

Moments and people are where we have seen mercy consistently, mysteriously, powerfully usher in a lightness of being. Mercy sees to the soul. It engages humanity and offers freedom. Freedom from long-standing prisons, such as baggage from past events, hurts, relational issues, or just old habits. And if it has not provided freedom, mercy has at least prompted such prisons to be addressed or brought into the light for addressing. And we know what light does: it bosses.

Mercy also invites why into the conversation. Maybe it’s only through mercy that we feel safe enough to go to why, which is where even more freedom lies.

If we’re willing to go there, why can we come to the rescue so that when feelings of unsettledness or misgiving or spiraling start to enter the picture, we can stop, call them out, and get to the source rather than isolate or quit?

I had an opportunity to practice why recently when a well-intentioned text from a friend left me unsettled. Why had I received her words so negatively? Getting to the why invited mercy for her (she was being kind, trying to out any misgivings).  Understanding why also led to mercy and compassion for myself because I realized a past hurt had easily misinformed.

Asking ‘’why’’ the words hurt opened the door for me to get to the core issue and reframe it according to thankfulness, kindness, and mercy.

The truth? God has declared acceptance and supreme significance over us, backing his words with action through Christ. Ruminating on that for a minute, ditching the negative thoughts, and standing in a shower of grace, love, and safety replaces feelings of judgment and rejection.

The narrative changes.

And the end of the story is changed from being informed by a negative road shaped by past hurt to genuine appreciation for all I have. 

Has someone spoken words to you today that left you unsettled? Take time to look for why. Ask Jesus to give you wisdom to understand and mercy to extend as he shows you the deeper why.