tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343163817426504212.post3599725250909099145..comments2023-08-15T14:13:25.881+01:00Comments on The Simple Pastor: Social Action ConferencePhil Whittallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924050376023993196noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343163817426504212.post-29528581948250859582008-04-23T08:42:00.000+01:002008-04-23T08:42:00.000+01:00Recently I was praying (!!) about the idea of merc...Recently I was praying (!!) about the idea of mercy and grace and the lyrics to a song by Josh Groban came to me...'You raise me up so i can stand on mountains, you raise me up to walk on stormy seas, I am strong when i am on your shoulders, you raise me up to more than i can be'. I think that mercy in a difficult world is one of the biggest challenges that face us. I'm at the stage where i am aware that i cannot be merciful without God's help, He raises me up 'to more than i can be', to act kindly when i want to scream and shout! And when someone is difficult or unkind, i have to focus on their goodness and as Martin Luther King said 'Hate the act, not the person'. I work on the premise that if i am active in being kind and loving then it will have more positive ends than negative ones. Simple things like letting someone out from a junction when i'm driving, smiling and thanking people for letting me go, or buying biscuits for collegues on a day when work might be hard, are small acts but can make the biggest difference. Not sure that answers it!! I'm new to all of this! xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com