"The real art of living is beginning where you are."
Forgiveness and reconciliation. Today these two concepts have been fluttering around in my brain. This morning was my Christian Home bible class, just like every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. That means that I didn't really want to get up out of bed for the 8am class, but I was interested in what would be taught in class. The professor presented the question: "Why is it so hard to forgive yourself?" Many students agreed that it was because the consequences remain although God forgave.
People spoke in chapel about being reconciled with God and with someone for whom they cared. The story that stuck in my mind was the story of the husband and wife. Although married and living in the same house and sleeping in the same bed, the disconnect grew day after day. Work and life drowned their passion for the marriage, and they stopped working on making it right. One day, the wife made a phone call that changed the course of events for their lives. She gave her husband an ultimatum - work on the relationship or she would leave with their son. Now, they strive to fix their broken marriage.
"The real art of living is beginning where you are."
As I read my book for Christian Home (because of the upcoming quiz), I froze at this quote. I grabbed my hot pink highlighter and drew a thick line over the words. That wasn't enough though; I wanted to share it. Unless we change what is happening right now, life is not being lived. Satan desires for us to hold onto feelings of inadequacy and the belief of being unforgivable. In order to live, we need to start over -- by making difficult changes.
That is one lesson truly needed in my life. I don't let go of the idea that I can't be forgiven. Today, I move forward and won't dwell in my mistakes of the past.
So, what are your thoughts? Why is it so hard to forgive ourselves and others?
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI love your question "Why is it so hard to forgive ourselves and others?"
I think part of the reason why we have a hard time forgiving ourselves is because of the idea of permanence, and of this world being finite. Indeed, life is finite. However, are souls and our salvation are not. Perhaps if we were to focus on that which is eternal far more than that which is not, forgiveness would be an easier concept to grasp.
I often think of the old saying "There are some things you cannot unsee, undo...." in relation to the idea of permanence. While the saying is true (because of most of us have memories) in a biological sense, it's not true in a spiritual sense. God gave us the perfect example of the ultimate and eternal forgiveness by sending Christ to die for our sins. Even though that act was performed with a love that is uncomprehending, it doesn't mean we can't try - we have the Bible. If we focus on what God teaches with true devotion, I do believe it would be easier to forgive ourselves and others.