For over a decade, I have been part of an online Christian Discussion group. In various forums we discuss theological subjects and current events. We also discuss recipes, family celebrations and movie recommendations. It is an active forum and I enjoy my involvement.

In the last few days, the Current Events board has contained several threads concerning Abdel Baset al- Megrahi, the Libyan convicted of killing 270 people in the 1988 airline bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Known as the "Lockerbie Bomber", because of the site of the crash, he was released for compassionate reasons last week. Scottish law allows for release when a prisoner is terminally ill and Al-Megrahi has been given months to live.

The discussion has revealed to me again, how difficult it is for humans to truly embrace the concept of compassion. We acknowledge that we serve a God of grace. We express a desire to share that with others. Yet, we admit how hard it is to actually extend compassion to those who have caused injury to ourselves or others.

Two concerns have been identified in the discussion. Many are of the opinion that al-Megrahi doesn't deserve our compassion. Others feel that the decision to release him shows little respect for the families of his victims.

I truly have been torn as I have consid- ered this myself. On the one hand, I try to put myself in the midst of the horror that those families' experienced. I understand that this decision will probably cause them immense pain. But I also recognize that if we only offer compassion to those who "deserve it" we run the risk of becoming hard and uncaring people and losing sight of the fact that it is only through the grace of God that we ourselves live as children of God.

One participant stated that this release brings little comfort to the families of the victims. I thought about that for awhile before I responded.

Can the punishment of a perpetrator ever really bring comfort to a victim? It seems to me that comfort comes, not through the justice system, but through spiritual resources and individuals in our lives who draw alongside and walk through valleys with us.

I am not sure how I feel about the Scottish law that makes compassionate release possible.

But I do know that, if we look to justice to bring us comfort and extend compassion only to the "deserving" we place limits in our lives.

God works within us as we open ourselves up to the fullness of His grace. How can we begin to appreciate that grace if we refuse to extend it to others?

God wants to walk with us through times of grief and sorrow. How can we receive His comfort if we expect to find consolation in the execution of justice?

There are no easy answers when we think of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi. I have sympathy for the Scottish Minister of Justice as he was faced with this decision. I understand why so many people are upset with him. By the standards of human justice, Al- Megrahi does not deserve to spend his last months alive in freedom. He certainly should not have been given a heroes' welcome when he returned to his home.

But ultimately, as Christians, we remember that we are citizens of a different Kingdom. Showing compassion here on earth can cause us injury.

We are citizens of a different Kingdom. We know that we cannot find complete comfort in the flawed systems of this world.

Ultimately, we are created for eternity.

May we prepare our hearts for that eternity by embracing the grace and comfort of God.