Character Journal Entry: Felix
[The page is marked in an unusual way: the (lavender) symbol of a (the, rather) Bird, with two lines underneath, and an arrow pointing up on the left side… followed by a dash and then the numbers 29-1022.]
It takes great love for fellow Man to wield both mercy and justice. These two great forces of good in this world can only be reconciled to each other in love. As these days press on, I can see more clearly that it is only by virtue of love that either force of good can triumph in a world consumed by darkness.
The world is so often indifferent at best, bound to the laws of nature that govern the savagery of beasts: to kill or be killed, the hierarchy of brute force, the primal instinct to eliminate threats and competition. This strong-armed shadow permeates life as we know it; all things are subject to the will of nature, no matter how far removed from the wilds an entity might be. Nature has a way of crushing both the haughty and the humble alike, laying claim to victims without regard or remorse. Too often does Man mirror nature in this way, echoing violence and oppression without remorse.
Because of the heartlessness of nature and the cold indifference of fellow Man, even the best can be so cruelly brought low, even cut down before their time. The world as we know it is without justice on its own in that way, for it knows only the laws of survival… and nothing more. Its justice is a hollow one, rewarding only power and tenacity.
For there to be any other justice in this world, it must follow a different law. And we know that true justice follows such laws: laws dictated by compassion. Compassion for the vulnerable, the downtrodden, the marginalized, the oppressed, and the forgotten. This justice is not of this world, but of something greater; it springs forth from the same wellspring as the virtues that defy the ways of the wild.
Such compassion also leads to an outpouring of mercy. The love that guides this justice also moves the heart to mercy. Mercy to our neighbor, to those in need—even to those crushed with the stain of guilt. Mercy moves us to kindness, and to be gentle to one another. We find the greatest peace in our hearts when we are free to live a life of mercy, and to share that love with those around us—for it is by that higher law that our spirits are bound, and we are at peace when we obey this instinct imprinted on our minds and hearts.
We are called not only to be merciful to one another, but also patient with ourselves. For we are none of us perfect, and we will constantly fall short of both duty and desire to do good in this world. Justice demands we make reparations to those we have wronged, but mercy demands that we have the humility to acknowledge our actions and resolve to rise from the dust and pursue that which is good.
All of Life is held together by such fragile threads. The ties that bind are too strong to be broken, but they can be severed by the merest of accident or circumstance. What justice is there to be found then? Only what justice we bring to the table, by the care of those left in the wake of such shears.
It is for this reason we must seek to love one another. Not in the blind adoration that refuses to find fault, but in the tender desire for what is best for the other person. This requires both compassion and courage, and it will not always be rewarded by those who live by the laws of the wild. Nevertheless, such efforts are not without meaning, and not without impact. The merest passing kindness can have profound and lasting impact on a soul; it is wise not to underestimate or undervalue such deeds.
So let us love one another.
The storms this year have been intense, and I believe that the greatest is yet to come. We are put to the test now; let us not be found wanting.
For when this storm breaks, and the Sun returns to these lands, it is the law of love that will reign, and we will work together for succor, to ease the wounds of the injured world.
