Disordered Mercies

I was talking to my friend Murph last night about a specific situation.  I told her how I'm trying to recognize negative internal speech before it becomes a planted seed and how I need to reorder my thoughts to avoid inviting into myself undesirable dealings.  I was going down that well-worn road of "what is it about me that draws xyz ..." and Murph stopped me to recommend that I take the focus off what I attract and look at what I discern.

We will attract many divergent [things, people, experiences] in our lives because it is a necessary part of our growth process.  After all, you cannot pray the prayer of Jabez and remain sheltered.

She further asked me to evaluate my offering of what she called 'Disordered Mercies'.  My gift of mercy, she suggested, was without wisdom because I did not discern the unrelenting mercilessness in the other - and that made my offer of mercy, in that situation, disordered.  I argued that being compassionate without judgment was a good thing but was told that mercy is to be conducted on equitable terms.

Murph challenged me to evolve further; to discern greater.

I am always grateful for the cognizance of the worth of women, especially when it comes through connection with good girlfriends.

I left the conversation feeling almost glad for 2010 --  a largely lost year for me.

Give trust; extend mercies, but not without considerable discernment.

Bisous!