I was sitting in traffic waiting for the red light to give me the green arrow to turn left. I was also checking the national and international news on my phone when all of a sudden I felt someone smash into the back of my car. The jolt threw my head back but the impact was minimal.

I motioned to the car behind me that we should pull over. Then I watched the lady. She kept wiping her brow and I could read self condemnation all over her face. I wasn’t upset, these things happen when you are out in traffic all day. I have done exactly what she did many years ago. I had no intent to yell or scream at her, nor to condemn her.

As I continued to watch her I pulled up a little and saw that her car had suffered no damage. I was thankful for that. Then I started praying asking God to ensure that my car had not been damaged. The reason why I said this prayer was not because I idolize my car, it was because I sincerely wanted to show the lady who hit my car one thing. I wanted to show her mercy.

I made my left turn and she had to stop at the stop light so I waited for her. While I was waiting I checked my car. There wasn’t even a scratch. When she pulled up I told her that they only reason I had waited for her was to make sure she wouldn’t worry about it. We spoke a few kind words to each other and then ended the conversation with a wish for God’s blessing on each other.

As I continued to reflect on this I realized that I had treated her as God has treated me so many times. He has shown me mercy. I think many times because of the programming we have received in the church, or from our parents, we have a deluded image of God. We think that God is waiting in heaven for us to sin just so He can bring the hammer of judgement down upon us. I really believe that more than anything He wants to show us mercy.

If He really wanted to condemn us do you think He would have sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to remove our sin so that he can show us mercy and love for all of eternity?