Each of us has a choice. We can decide to live forgiveness or not. The real issue behind forgiveness is a foundational decision about how we choose to be defined. Deciding to be defined by God, first and foremost, is a decision to be committed to the openness of the future and the unlimitedness of the possibilities that lie ahead. If, on the other hand, we decide to allow the words and actions of others to define us, or our circumstances and experiences to define us, we seriously limit our futures. We limit ourselves to only considering and encountering those things which closely resemble our pasts and the people we currently know. We deny God’s power to “make all things new” (Is. 43) and we deny the Resurrection.
This is so much easier to SAY than to LIVE. We, of course, only know the past. How can we possibly orient ourselves to an unknown, unseen future?
The answer is: we trust. We decide to throw our lot completely in with the God who has never, can never, will never fail those who decide to trust him without reservation. (Romans 8:28). There are, of course, no guarantees. But that is why we call this an exercise of faith. The question for ME today is: what is my own hangup with living the advice I so freely dole out to others?
AMEN.
Russellings of the Spirit 