Our world thrives on division and conflict, doesn’t it? In fact, we’re somewhat drunk on division. And it’s not merely division we love, but the paradigm of a victor who crushes and insults (cf. the Trump effect). Do you recall Conan the Barbarian’s answer to the question “What is best in life?” Conan: “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women.” I’d suggest that, particularly when you watch politics on TV, you’ll find a narrative fairly close to that. Mercy is not a part of our grammar. It’s not a part of our narrative.
During the week Lent began, I had a surreal experience. It was an experience many have, but it was new to me. I was summoned to the county courthouse as a candidate for a jury. Long story short: they passed on the priest in his collar who reminded the judge that Ash Wednesday was the next day.
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