Have Mercy.
This article is part of Finding the Words, a newsletter that delivers practical insights on the day’s issues.
Last week, an Episcopal bishop stood before the President of the United States and asked him to have mercy.
That bishop is the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese in Washington, DC. In full disclosure, she is also my family’s bishop.
The clip of her remarks has since gone viral. The visual is as striking without sound as it is with the audio: a lone female bishop standing in front of the newly elected leaders of America’s political world as they openly scoff at her—all while she remains poised, in control of her words, with remarkable conviction and grace.
In 2023, Bishop Mariann wrote a book called How We Learn to Be Brave, in which she explored the practice of making decisions and how we can learn to live through our values in decisive moments. The book weaves together stories from pop culture to the gospel, underscoring the universality of these moments—and the particular call each of us must heed when they arrive.
Last week, millions watched as one of those moments arrived for her.
Standing tall and aware of possible backlash, she was not affected by the body language of her audience. She appeared unafraid, speaking gently and respectfully.
A bishop, simply asking a president to have mercy.
Talk about practicing what she preaches.
Here’s what she said the following day on The View:
“My responsibility was to reflect and pray with the nation for unity. As I pondered the foundations of unity, I wanted to emphasize respecting the honor and dignity of every human being, basic honesty, and humility. And I realized that unity requires a certain degree of mercy, compassion, and understanding.”
When asked if she considered pausing given the body language she was receiving from the President and Vice President, she said:
“I had something on my heart to say, and I had to keep going. I had to leave it to them—to all of us—to take to heart what they could and leave the rest to God.”
We don’t know when these decisive moments to be brave will arrive, but they are inevitable. How will you heed the call?
As my wise teacher Don Foley reminded me this week, learning to be brave isn’t just in what we say; it’s also in how we listen. It's in what we take to heart.
Though President Trump was Bishop Mariann's primary audience, was she actually addressing all of us? Was her message a simple reminder—in moments big and small—that grace, compassion, and empathy for one another should guide how we treat one another?
I like to think so.
Carrying forward her call into this week, I’ll offer this:
If you have something on your heart to say, say it.
Practice speaking with love—grace, compassion and empathy—so others may better hear you.
And if someone is bravely addressing you, be brave enough to listen.
Because if you don’t, who will?
This post is part of the Finding The Words column, a series published every Wednesday that delivers a dose of communication insights direct to your inbox. If you like what you read, we hope you’ll subscribe to ensure you receive this each week.
