One more time...

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. ~ 2 John 3-5

It shows up everywhere, doesn't it?

Love one another.

Have compassion for one another.

And here, the epistle writer makes clear this is no new commandment. We've heard it before.

We'll hear it again.

And maybe eventually we'll get it.

When Nelson Mandela was in prison for 27 years, but for 12 of those years, his life was made richer and fuller and more loving by one of his enemies - one of his prison guards, a white Afrikaner named Christo Brand.

Brand endangered himself by his kindness to Mandela. He smuggled in food and news of Mandela's family. He once even brought his own baby in so Mandela would have a chance to hold one for the first time in years.

Brand didn't have to show the great South African leader compassion. His life would have been easier if he didn't. He risked much to be kind.

Mandela didn't forget his former jailer when he became president, giving him a government position.

Maybe we will get it after all.

Loving Lord, teach me to have compassion always. Amen.