Be Merciful - Father Dave's Blog

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36)

Hi Fighter,

How do you urge a fighter to be merciful? You don’t win fights by being merciful!

I still remember the final words given to me before I climbed into the ring for my first fight. My cornerman urged me to put aside any religious or sentimental feelings of compassion I might have for my opponent, and to go out to kill him. “If you hit him hard and hurt him, good! Hit him again!”

I remember even then feeling conflicted. Thankfully, the adrenalin kicked in moments later and my reflections were put on hold. Even so, it wasn’t until I read these words of Jesus some time later that it clicked with me as to how you combine the warrior lifestyle with mercy. You model yourself on God!

All three Abrahamic religions are built on an understanding of God as merciful. In Islam, every chapter of the Qur’an (bar one) begins with the words, “Bishmellah a rahman a raheem“, which one scholar-friend translated for me as “in the name of God, the merciful and even more merciful.”

Mercy is the core of every major religious metaphysic, and the New Testament goes so far as to suggest that our whole understanding of love and mercy are drawn from God. This is the opposite of the classic Freudian interpretation of religion, where we project an image of our ideal parent on to the Heavens and call that God. St Paul suggests that it actually works the opposite way around:

“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom all fatherhood is named in heaven and on earth.” (Ephesians 3:14-15)

Paul believed that we begin with an understanding of God as our true parent, and we develop our understanding of what an ideal earthly parent should be like based on the Divine original!

Yes, it seems odd to urge a warrior to be merciful but, in truth, it is the Divine model, and it’s the only hope we have.

A Tough Week

At time of writing last week, I was awaiting my COVID result. Yes, I tested positive, though I don’t think I picked it up at the Canberra rally or even at my boxing session the following Tuesday. However it happened, I’ve now completed my week in isolation and am clawing my way back into the daylight.

With the extra time I had at my desk, I was able to pay more attention to the comments that came in on my Facebook page in response to the photos I’d posted from the rally. I was astonished at the level of vitriol! 🙁

It was all a little déjà vu. In July of last year, I posted images from the first Sydney Freedom rally, naively thinking that all my friends would celebrate those images of joy and freedom with me. Instead, people ripped into me and threatened to report me to the police, and so I took the photos down lest I get someone into trouble.

I thought the mood had changed by now, and no doubt it has to some extent. Even so, I was astonished once again at how nasty people could be in their criticism.

The comments that surprised me most were along the lines of “why don’t you just pay your taxes?” There were three or four people who left comments like that and I’m still having trouble making sense of them. What would make anyone think that I don’t pay my taxes or that people who were at the rally don’t pay tax? It felt reminiscent of Vietnam War protestors being told to “get a haircut and a real job”.

There is a deep disconnect between the reality on the ground and the narrative reflected in these comment. How long can this sort of disconnect be maintained? I’m not sure, but I can see the cracks appearing in the Canadian situation and that gives me hope.

Our Sunday Eucharist

This Sunday I hope to be back in the rectory of St David’s, Haberfield, for the Sunday Eucharist and we will be broadcasting via:

Support the work

And it’s not too late to get me a 60th birthday present. Go no further than my Patreon page.

Middleweight Division ($10/month) where you get access to the member site, along with the videos and other resources.
Heavyweight Division ($100/month) which includes individual coaching, along with software subscriptions to both Buzzious and Streamout, allowing you both to publish an unlimited number of quality blogs and to livestream.
Super-Heavyweight division ($400/month) includes all of the above plus me training with you one-on-one – at The Fight Lab and at Binacrombi Bush Camp

That will do for today. Expect something more vibrant from me next week. Keep praying for Joy and for Walter, please.❤️

Your brother in the Good Fight,

www.fatherdave.org
www.fighting-fathers.com
www.holytrinity.org.au
www.binacrombi.com.au
www.israelandpalestine.org
www.prayersforsyria.com
www.dulwichhillgym.com
www.boxersforpeace.com
www.warriorweekends.com

P.S. The delicious images below are courtesy of my beloved daughter, Imogen, who sent Fran and I these vital birthday supplies. My son, similarly, braved the perils of isolation to bring me some wine. Who could ask for better children?