Hard Forgiveness

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.-Matthew 6:14


In 2006 there was a tragic and terrible school shooting in an Amish community.  The thing I remember most about this one was the immediate message of forgiveness that came afterward.  They were heavily criticized by non-Christians and Christians alike who said that forgiveness without remorse denies the existence of evil.  However, Amish scholars explained that the community believes that Amish willingness to forgo vengeance does not undo the tragedy or pardon the wrong, but rather constitutes a first step toward a future that is more hopeful.


We are coming up on the 10th anniversary of 9-11.  I've heard the question posed by a few people... "How would the last 10 years have been different if we had forgiven those who sinned against us so terribly on 9-12?"  The very idea sounds pretty politically naive, doesn't it?  But Jesus often turned typical human reaction on its head by espousing the exact opposite:  "Give everything away to become rich," "Love those who hate you," "Turn the other cheek," "Give more to those who steal from you," and even, "Die in order to live."


The Amish community was able to move on with peace in their hearts.  Our country has had 10 years of war... the loss of young men and women sworn to protect us.  We have had 10 years of economic crisis and 10 years of  of revenge in our hearts.  Will we continue this for another 10 years insisting that we must first see remorse?  Or will we love our enemies as Jesus instructed and forgive as we are forgiven?


I don't think for a moment that this is the easy way.  Forgiveness is hard work.  Forgiveness is a process.  But it is a process that starts with a decision... the decision to forgive.


How different might our observation of 9-11 be in 2021 if we forgive today?  Are we ready for a "future that is more hopeful?"


Father,
We pray for our country as we approach the 10th anniversary of the painful loss and devastation of 9-11.  Help our hearts to heal.  Help us to forgive as a country so that we can move on to the very important things we have neglected in the name of revenge... our education, health care, infrastructure, and economy.  Amen.


Joys:  Richard's birthday today!; my sweet Cecelia and lots of hugs, kisses and snuggles; wonderful mountain hike yesterday morning.