Oblate Program at Belmont Abbey, NC

A New Year of Mercy (2016)

Dohle-New-Year-of-Mercy-webFor the New Year of 2016, may we grow in the courage to look within,
and in that seeing and experiencing our own inner struggles and failures;
we may grow in compassion for others and understand that just as we each need mercy, so perhaps we should extend it to all.

A friend of mine asked me one day why I bother writing prisoners. He does think that they should not get any consideration at all and should simply be punished and isolated from society. So I asked him if that was helpful to anyone. To the prisoners themselves or to society in general once they get out.

There is a saying that I believe is true: “There but for the grace of God go I”. For me it means that if I found my self in certain kinds of situations, and the pressure was strong enough, that I could do just about anything to rectify the situation. Or if I was brought up in circumstances that were harsh, abusive, poor and where love was never felt, then I doubt I would be the person I am today. Granted, committing wrong against society in general, or others in particular, do need to be dealt with. Nor can those who commit them be excused. Yet the deeper we understand the human mind and heart; the easier it is to grow in understanding and compassion. Reform for anyone can only come through facing what was done and accepting the consequences. Only then can the road to a better life be made. Does any one think that isolating and simply punishing those in prison will lead to that.

I have received great mercy from the Lord. We can hide many things from each other. Deep emotions that could lead to acts of violence or crimes of greed, and adultery… there is a long list that can be hidden beneath a veil of hypocrisy. I believe that most people (myself included) can easily become hypocritical. Within most humans there is a struggle to simply be decent. Failure is common, to be expected even, yet to hide from these failures leads to a place where darkness grows.

Br. Mark Dohle, OCSO
Holy Spirit Monastery

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