Justice vs. Mercy - The Great Ethical Dilemma

We have a choice between justice and mercy. Which will you choose?

"Many of us have difficulty admitting that we caused harm for others... We cut away our justification and our ideas of being a victim." ~ Just For Today p. 291

The Just for Today reading is definitely a big one. In one hand we have justice, and in the other hand we have mercy. Mercy is often viewed as weak, inferior, and always ends in the person that was wronged never getting any reciprocation for how they were wronged. Justice is viewed as superior, the right way and the fair way, and usually ends in the person who was wronged getting even with the person that wronged them.

Most people forget that whenever they are the ones doing the wrong, they never want justice to be enacted upon themselves. They always want mercy for their wrong-doings. That double standard is what causes so much controversy on this subject.

"But if we take a look back on our own behavior, we may find that we've been guilty of what's been done to us." ~ Basic Text p. 38

Personally, I know that I've harmed a bunch of people throughout my active addiction. Everyone was fair game and if I could manipulate the situation to make the outcome how I wanted it to end, I did so. Whether I had to lie, steal, cheat, or anything else, it didn't matter to me. I always was self-centered in my thinking, always had myself first, and anything else second.

I've cheated on numerous girlfriends, stolen money & pills from family, and more. Whenever I got caught I always wanted mercy and never wanted to deal with the consequences of my actions. I wanted to make the situation better for myself in any means possible. Never did I want justice to be imposed on myself.

On the flip side, whenever I was wronged, I made sure that the person who wronged me got not just fair justice, but cruel justice. If I could mess your life up I did. I would try and make the person loose their job, their reputation, and was extremely vindictive towards people.

See there's a huge difference between fair justice and cruel justice. If someone ruins your property, fair justice dictates that they replace the damaged property. Cruel justice would be anything more then replacing the damaged property. I would always side on cruel justice. I didn't care about your life, or you as a human being. Mercy was never a thought ever in my mind.

"We thank a loving God for the compassion we've been shown, and we take the time to appreciate all the precious gifts that recovery brings." ~ Basic Text p. 38

As I sit and think about this Just For Today, I am looking at some situations where I've been shown mercy. I was facing some pretty serious criminal charges back in 2015. Only by the mercy of the judge did I walk away with only a minor criminal charge on my record and a minor fine. By the mercy of my parents was I able to have a lawyer. By the mercy of my higher power did I not die while in active addiction.

I've had guns held to my face, been so dehydrated that I was almost hospitalized, had chemical reactions blow up in my face, and so much more. It still amazes me that all the compassion and mercy I've been shown and I haven't really ever shown any compassion for anyone else. It's just mind boggling to me how self-centered this disease is.

I will try my hardest during my recovery on a daily basis to show more compassion and mercy to those around me. Whether they have wronged me or not. It's something that I must learn to do. I know that by doing so it will make me a better person. I feel as though the 'fog or war' and drugs is lifting. Slowly but surely.