When we are drawn into Christ, we are moved (sometimes before we are "really" willing) towards forgiveness.
Recently I spent time with some folks in the church who had reached a difference of opinion resulting in hurtful words and actions. They had not yet made up their minds to forgive each other. Still, they accepted the call to come "together" in for prayerful conversation.
Christ's teachings draw us toward forgiveness and reconciliation that occurs, sometimes, without fully understanding all of the nuts and bolts of our painful interactions. (This is one of the ways we sometimes experience the "peace that passes all understanding.)
When we trust the call to be at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are opening ourselves to an ongoing transformation of heart that moves us toward love. As we stay together, praying together for each other AND for our own humble willingness to rest in the spirit of forgiveness, relationships can mellow and soften. In that condition it is more likely that even the most divisive "truths" can be spoken in a spirit of love.
The amazing thing is that with Christ held at the center of our committees and other relationships, we may find ourselves with a desire (and indeed an ability) to experience a sense of peace and forgiveness BEFORE we experience a "meeting of the minds." The members of the body of Christ can function, then, in greater health and wholeness as they work together ot discover the next steps in their shared mission.
How have you experienced this kind of a miracle? Where are you hoping for the miracle of forgiveness to occur?
4 comments:
This posting reminds me of a concept the views relationships as a tiangle. When we place God at the top of the triangle and ourselves and the other at the bottom corners any conflict that might arize in the relationship can bring us closer to God and each other. By remaining connected to each other and lifting the conflict to God we move up the sides of the triangle through prayer. As we get closer to God we also get closer to each other. Reconciliation is much easier when we don't have so far to reach.
What a clear and helpful image... thank you! Pamela
Forgiveness is a big issue for me as my family just didn't do it well, often not speaking to each other for days and then "burying" the issue. So I had to learn (and am still learning) that it is much healthier to discuss issues at the moment even though it may initially be painful. How good to hear that your church members agreed to meet even if they didn't feel entirely ready to forgive.
This posting made me think of a passage from Matthew 18:15-18. It begins:
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."
I had a student at a Christian college who actually based a paper on this. He used these passages to propose how to deal with issues in a business setting. I was impressed and uplifted by his approach--in a difficult work environment--to openly follow this guiding star. He was aiming to establish a path of reconciliation and open, honest communication among disagreeing parties.
Emotions and other 'stuff' can and does easily get in the way of forgiveness. The one behind the dark door must celebrate mightily when reconciliation is broken and thrown aside in favor of anger, bitterness and separation.
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