season of mercy

I am in sunny St. George for a few days, and I have effectively staved off work and school productivity. However, I have gone to two plays in two days, and I have been both entertained and enriched. Today I saw Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, one of my FAVORITES, and I was given nuggets to digest about justice and mercy. Due to the different circumstances we find ourselves in, some of us require more mercy (or are in cirumstances that require more mercy), while others are in circumstances to extend more mercy. And whenever mercy is extended, the blessing is double: both for the giver and the receiver (please refer to the courtoom scene of Merchant of Venice for a beautiful detailing of what I just said).

I also found myself sitting by a myriad of different people from different situations. Usually, play-goers are of a particular "type," but since I was going to a Thursday matinee, I found myself among high school and junior high kids, as well as a disabled group. I was so pleased to have them there participating, and I wondered if their perceptions would be different due to the filter of their individual paradigms. Well, obviously, but how, I didn't know. I don't know. It made me think how many different good things there are to do with money and time (and other resources) as far as helping other people out. There are a lot of people with resources, and there are a variety of people that need resources. So the excuse is not in the lack of opportunity; it is in the lack of action.

So, during this time of thinking, I have returned once more to the paradigm of wanting to act. I plan on giving more $$$ for fast offerings, to start off with, and perhaps starting a thing where I make cupcakes for the foster kids at a local school when it is their birthday. You know, SOMETHING. Anything is good. Just as long as I am extending the mercy that will be a blessing both to me and to the one receiving it. (ie: action)