Doug Van Pelt

Mercy is okay

That's a real-life hellgrammite. And you thought it was just a made-up bug name for people like Mitch "Bradford" Roberts to throw around. Ha! Shows what we know! I just want to know why he was called "Booger Foot."

SXSW is over, and my body is grateful. I'm hoping to get the next issue through deadline without having to tax my physical body's ability to work without rest.
:?)

In 2 Samuel 16, we see King David, surrounded by many guards and soldiers, having verbal abuse and stones hurled at him by an angry man (Shimei). David assumed that perhaps God told him to curse at him, so he forbid his angry subordinates (who wanted to kill the guy) from harming him. "Perhaps the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today."

Wow. What a response! I often hope that I can remain calm and at peace amidst cursing, slander, and insults. That certainly seems the "high road" to take during such a scenario. Even if God wasn't behind the cursing, being able to respond to someone in an opposite spirit (love or kindness instead of hate) is surely the better approach. Cutting off Shimei's head may have been warrented, but mercy is good.

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at March 21, 2005 08:58 AM