Severe Mercy

Disclaimer: There is no tint of hurt or bitterness in this entry. Nothing has happened in the recent days that stirred this writing. My thoughts are simply that -- thoughts.

Perfectionism is a sickness in our society or at least the desire for it. I am always amazed at the amount of mercy and compassion that is had for someone that has suffered a health tragedy, regardless of their prior health decisions. There may have been poor health decisions, yet compassion is easily mustered for the result. On the other hand, compassion and grace do not flow as freely for the person that ends up in a crises because of poor life decisions. Poor life decisions oftentimes equal a compassion drought.

Why is this so? I ask this because I am a decision/choice person, and I have been questioning myself. Pastor Bruce and I were discussing balance today. It is so necessary yet so difficult. As a decision person, I have always felt life was about choices, and basically, you reap what you sow. In both health and emotional emergencies, hearts are weighing in balance. Both are equally as important, yet one easily arouses grace while the other seems to repel it. My questioning resulted in this -- a question. Are those bad decision sometimes necessary in order for personal growth? As far as I can see, pain is the only true motivator for deep personal growth. It creates true change for better or for worse. God has mercy, but,oftentimes, it is severe. I am debating whether choices are everything, and if right choices are constantly made than does life go well? Could I make all right decisions in life and still end with painful results? Those painful results are where we grow though, if we choose to embrace them. In reevaluating my "choices doctrine", I am beginning to think maybe it is not all about right and wrong decisions but simply His severe mercy.