Pastor Larson’s Corner: Love and mercy
The song “Love and Mercy” was chosen as the title for the recent movie documenting the life of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The film documents a very difficult period in Wilson’s life, and if it wasn’t for the love and mercy of people who loved him, he may have never survived. When Wilson wrote “Love and Mercy,” he must have been reflecting upon those dark days, remembering how much he himself needed love and mercy in his life at the time.
In the chorus of the song, Wilson writes, “Love and mercy, that’s what you need tonight. So love and mercy to you and your friends tonight.” It’s a simple lyric and a simple thought, but it cuts to the core of what true religion and faith are all about. God loves us with a love beyond our understanding and has mercy upon us even without our asking. In turn, we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves and have mercy on others by forgiving them from our heart.
In the verses of the song, Wilson reflects upon the world he sees all around him. He talks about the violence in the world and how so many people are hurting and lonely. He wrote this song 28 years ago, but everything he says continues to ring true in the world of 2016. Unfortunately things have not changed much in our world over the past 28 years. The level of violence and the number of people hurting and lonely continues to be great. However, we also know that God’s love and mercy are great. We know that nothing can separate us from this love and mercy and that in the midst of death there remains the promise of life. A life that truly reflects the love and mercy of God.
This article originally appeared in the April 22, 2016, issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
