Embody mercy in the margins
Following the way of Jesus will include embodying mercy in the margins. Of course, Jesus didn’t just set aside time once a week to practice this; it was a part of him, showing up in all his interactions. And don’t we want that to be true of our own lives? We want compassion to happen organically, to flow out of who we are and what we value. We don’t want this to be a check box or a project because it’s something we truly value.
But sometimes, as much as we might dislike it – our values don’t organically shape our lives. Our habits do. And our habits – if we let them happen organically and without intentionality – are often more shaped by convenience, routine, and the demands of our days. Practicing the habit of embodying Jesus in the margins is not about making a project out of people; it’s about intentionally cultivating rhythms that accurately reflect who we are and how we love our neighbor.
We hope the tools in this toolbox will help you expand your view of what it means to embody mercy in the margins.