There are so many things in life that we don’t have to do, but will enrich our lives and experiences if we decide to do them. We don’t have to share with other people, but if we do, we become more aware of how blessed we are. We don’t have to love someone else, but if we do, it completes us in ways we couldn’t otherwise imagine. We don’t have to continue learning, but deciding to do so can enrich us and help us as life evolves around us. And we don’t have to forgive others, but doing so relieves a burden from our hearts and from others.
As a pastor, I consider the Bible to be God’s perfect word; a book that declares that those who wish to be right with God will share, love, learn, and forgive – amongst a whole host of other things that the local, state and federal laws don’t require. Therefore, I pray regularly for a heart that wants the things that Jesus wants, knowing that my behavior will always fall short, but also knowing that my imperfections in no way diminish His perfection. And the more I seek to be like Christ, the more fulfilling my life becomes.
Our community is so wonderful because we have people who know the blessings of sharing, loving, learning and forgiving, whether they are followers of Christ or not. The outpouring of love and sharing in our community, particularly over the last month, has been a beautiful reflection of who we are. Unfortunately, we as a community are now facing an opportunity to forgive, as well as an opportunity to learn. We don’t have to do either, but I would certainly contend that we will be a far better community if we do so.
The Christian standard for forgiveness can be found, among other places, in the Lord’s Prayer, which has the following line “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” That is an unbelievably burdensome standard, as we are asking God to forgive us to the same extent that we are willing to forgive others. And since we all have lots to be forgiven of, we need to be willing to forgive abundantly as well. Yet at the same time, even for those who don’t identify as Christians, an unwillingness to forgive leads to the dual problem of leaving some burden in your own heart while also reducing the circle of people that you are willing to have fellowship with. Unforgiveness will ultimately lead to a heavily laden heart with no friends to talk to.
We as a community can learn from how we reacted to these events, and become a better place for it. I would also contend that forgiving will help us to learn more broadly, as it will allow us to look at more of the underlying issues with compassion and understanding, instead of simply dismissing important data because we were too hurt to care.
My prayer is that you will all strongly consider the importance of forgiveness (if you haven’t already done so). It can lighten our hearts, enlighten our minds, and continue to strengthen our beautiful community.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron