Tee Shirt

This morning I went to the gym, it’s been awhile, in the summer I try to get my exercise in outdoors so I don’t usually notice other people. I saw a fellow exerciser wearing a shirt that proclaimed:
“Wings Hockey”
“51 minutes”
“No Mercy”
“No Excuses”

Four statements all combined into one walking billboard of a tee-shirt. Oddly enough four statements can speak volumes. I’m guessing somewhere there is a hockey team named “Wings”, that this particular league plays three 17 minute periods (never knew that, always thought periods were 20 minutes). This team works very hard, takes responsibility for their actions and results; they accept those outcomes as the inevitable conclusion of hard work. They are without a doubt dedicated and committed to the pursuit of excellence. I did not speak with the individual, but the gist of the tee-shirt leads me to think that good is never going to be enough.

No mercy, this is the one I couldn’t quite grasp. It implies that regardless of the score, up a lot or up a little the team never lets up, they continue to be a team that shows no mercy, they are unable to discern when enough is enough, rather they can discern, they just choose not to ever let up. No retreat, no surrender, no regrets.

Justice says the law is the law. We practice harder, we have more talent, better coaching, and better equipment, therefore, we will run up the score. Justice is served every time punishment is meted out. Driving 75 in a 55 zone, fine is $235, next case please. Late for class, 30 minute detention. Payment is two days late, $34 fee please. Justice is black and white, the time matches the crime. Justice is rigid and alone.

Mercy is justice with compassion. Yes we are better, no we won’t take any more shots on goal, we’ll let you come to center ice unchallenged, and we’ll play our second string. Yes you were doing 75 in a 55, I’ll knock it down to 68 so the fine is less. Thirty minute detention turns into 15 minutes when mercy abounds.
Grace is unwarranted mercy. Mercy says I’ll show compassion, justice demands the letter of the law to be carried out. Grace says yes the letter of the law should be carried out, yes we can be compassionate and lower the punishment demanded by justice through mercy, but, we’re not going to. Grace is the complete and total forgiveness of our debts, even though we don’t deserve it. 2000 years ago grace came to all in the form of Jesus. Today be full of grace in all you do.