What Law Couldn’t do…

By Dr jarlat Uche opara

Laws are sacrosanct. Firm, fixed and unbendable. So striaght, bending becomes very difficult even when there is need for empathy, compassion and deep expression of milk of human kindness.

Laws are sacred, it has no time for rationalisation, garbage in garbage out, the status quo. More of puzzle tools, carved, designed and structured to produce a particular image. Each hole has an image it accommodates, any other image that tries to force itself in , would either not lap well or not even slide in at all. That is the law of the design, nothing changes it except it is redesigned.

Better be at the mercy of compassion and empathy than to be at the mercy of laws. Around laws mercy ceases to exist. What you sow is what you reap.

He belongs to an Association that was structured around laws for benefits to be accessed. Any member that fulfills the obligation of the Association’s laws gets their benefit either when deceased, bereaved or has something to celebrate. Failure to this one forfeits it. That is law, the rules, the regulations and the standard. It is faceless, emotionless with zero expression of sympathy, emparty and compassion. It has no feelings, blind but acts on the dictates of what was agreed on collectively. One may lose out completely when in default of the law but gains more than what the law provides when compassion, emparty and sympathy is invoked.

He died untimely and the circumstances surrounding his demise heart-rending. By law and regulations he deserves nothing from the group he belonged to whose laws he terribly defaulted.

Law says leave him to hoist with his own petard. Leave him to deal with the lizard attracted by an ant infected wood he brought. Allow him to get drown in the stinking pond he dug and swam in it by self volition. These are echoes of law and the wishes of some men.

But empathy and compassion wouldn’t let the weight of law crush him with a sledge hammer. What law wouldn’t have given him, empathy and compassion gave in threefold.

To some it looks like a terrible injustice, a bad presidence and a discreet way of encouraging lawlessness, irresponsibility and nonchalant attitude to duties and responsibilities. It sound so, but it equally shows how powerful emparty and compassion can be.

Law maintains justice, fairness and equality. But empathy and compassion created leeway for escape for him.

Law says he can’t get penny or kobo from the purse of the Association as entitlement, but empathy and compassion gave him more than he deserved lawfully.

Would this encourage nonchalant attitude to the laws and regulations of Association, Groups and Organisations? Maybe, but compassion and empathy may not always show up, very discretionary, not binding. Sticking to laws is reassuring, it makes for responsibility, diligence and dedication. But in the situation where one out of indelibration flaut the laws, emparty and compassion would always become the safety net.

Reflecting on the life of this my deceased old boy, his constitutional short fall for right and privileges and how emparty and compassion showed up massively, the mirror of our life in relation to God’s mercy, compassion and empathy becomes more pronounced.

We are before God like that my old boy who lost it in the face of law and constitution, who had no justification to get mercy, whose attitude and sense of commitment to our old boys association diametrically opposed to what our association law says, nevertheless, he got the best from empathy and compassion.

Who among us deserves to live by law? Who merits by law the air we breathe, the protection we enjoy, the success and progress achieved? Nobody!! We live by grace, mercy, compassion and empathy just like that my deceased old boy.

It can be tricky here, making one to desire to be irresponsible, living against laws and ordinances hoping on grace, empathy and compassion for an escape route.

The truth is, it doesn’t give an assurance that compassion and empathy must come when laws are breached. Be careful with life, try your best, do what you ought to do, if out of unforseen circumstances life happens and laws indict you, leaving you dried and empty, compassion and empathy can save the day just like the day was saved for my deceased old boy.

*Last line* Pray for the repose of his gentle soul. In his death, deep lessons I have learnt and my understanding of what life is more profound.

Jarlathuche@gmail.com