Debbie mentioned a film in the late morning discussion- The correct title is "Paying it Forward". (Only £2.98 on Amazon! Let us know if you have a copy to lend around.)

That was a tricky one! - how are they to learn if we don't make a point as they would prob.not have seen you pick it up & throw it away, & no-one wants to risk a needless confrontation in this day & age... maybe a note under their wiper may have made them think a little - we will never know.

PS maybe he would have thrown that on the floor too!- back to square one. add the car reg number to the note for a little shaming??? prob not very merciful.

I've had a problem before with "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord!" in similar situations!

I have to say I didn't feel called to help him learn anything and had no desire to relate to him at all as I have more than enough to contend with. Quite happy to leave it to God to sort out this sad person's need to appreciate the beauty of nature down Royal Lane on a sunny autumn day, and to sort out his conscience.

Thinking about it I suppose I pity him, actually. 

Not so much mercy as apathy/overload/just want the world to be less full of rubbish!

By the way- How come I'm still a newbie?

I think the mercyometer needs a trial run,back to J Clarkson again. Possibilty of an average reading.If it is a certain car, not mentioning any names, you could throw a whole bin full of rubbish in the car, but perhaps show some mercy,and not include the bin.Have I talked my way into a years hard labour in the church grounds again. Dont tell them your name Pike or John.

you are clearly now dependent on the mercy of Jane/Paul to be upgraded!! - John has posted less than you but is up a level...favouritism??

I prefer to be be called a newbie, instead of offline or one posting, not sure whats it all about.Kath is younger than me, it might be that.Longs that there is plenty of mercy going on. On that theme, I was at singing practice tonight,and one the songs was about mercy, my tonsils needed some mercy as some of the notes went a bit high. Me again J.

oh dear just managed to delete all I was going to write. Very frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wanted to throw in to the debate a couple of things I forgot rather frustartingly to say this monring. 

1] That Forgiving someone, regardless of wether they are sorry for what they have done does not make there action right. Forgiveness is about leaving it to God and letting go of the feelings that you have to sort it all out your self. Feelings which generally just fester away robbing us of happiness, perpetuating the hurt and ineveitable ends up preventing us being merciful and loving to others. 

 2] the other thing was that if we do not show mercy then the only alternative is to judge. We will judge according to the laws we apply to our selves, thus tying us up and preventing us from acting out of love. 

3] Mercy is costly. God gives to us at great cost to him self, he has no expectation of return. Our Mercy will be costly, it means out of love choosing to give up that which we feel we have a right too. Choosing to let go of that which we feel we are owed. In doing so we recieve, In doing so we also understand something of how costly it must be to God. 

4] Simply God knows whats good for us and he tells us to do it. Surely that should be enough. 

Ok thats is somw of what I didnt say earlier....

regarding the earlier posts... I think Julia Idea of a note is not a bad one. Ultimately though we have to forgive. lost track of the whole car thing though

 

Hear Hear!! Oliviobell - points put well

I have been getting a lot out of this forum, thanks guys!!

I think it's coz having more time to mull over what you want to say (and the joy of editing) suits me better than spontaneous chats in church.

P.S we've all been upgraded!! No longer a newbie (hooray!)

Off to Facebook now - Sorry Kath!!

Hello everyone. Not been on site for a while and I've been upgraded too!

 Just read the forum and about the car rubbish. It is frustrating isn't it and it IS hard to have a forgiving disposition for people who should know better.  

On the car theme, does anyone pity school-run car drivers who park badly, showing little consideration to other road users? Or am I very merciless?!  (It's only the parking I have a problem with - over driveways, over junctions and on corners/double parking etc)

 Perhaps the car drivers are at my mercy (to call the traffic warden or not) and I'm at the traffic warden's mercy to sort it out! 

I think I am a merciful person as I don't believe it is revenge that I'm after, but realisation that actions DO affect others.

Thank you I feel better for venting that!!!  Oh no it's Monday tomorrow..."Those school-run drivers........"