Forgiveness. A word
that has been resonating with me for weeks now.
A couple weeks ago we had silence at dinner, as with every Tuesday and
Thursday evening during Lent. Actually
there was not silence; rather, we listened to a reflection by Edward Hays
(incredible person, just so you know).
The reflection was on Forgiveness.
Edward Hays in this reflection painted a
picture for us of a rainbow rain that fell on human beings. After the rain stopped an unforgettable thing
happened: the rain left stains on the people.
The stains were colors of the rainbow, but not so pleasant. These stains were color-coded to sins, i.e.
red for murder, blue for adultery, etc., and the stains covered the faces and
arms and every inch of skin on the people, on us. People frantically tried to scrub off the
stains, ashamed of themselves. People
did good deeds in hope of absolving their sins; we went to church, prayed; we
gave up earthly possessions, donated money.
People went in to hiding; as the story goes so did the Pope, and
government offices were closed.
I
encourage you to find this reflection if you are interested. I really don’t want to spoil the ending, the
solution to removing the stains. But I
will by telling you what Hays said.
There was a man and woman who, among the frantic attempts to scrub away
stains, sat quietly talking with one another.
We soon find out that they are apologizing for the hurt they’ve
afflicted on the other, and on themselves.
The two forgive one another and promise to do their best. And guess what? –their stains disappeared.
In
addition to this reflection, multiple times in the past weeks I have turned on
the radio and what is the song that fills my ears? Forgiveness,
by Matthew West. There have been many
Gospels and other readings recently on FORGIVENESS. What a beautiful gift. And a focus during this Lenten season. The parable of the Prodigal Son (or daughter;
--child) also speaks to me of so much Forgiveness.
Alas,
forgiveness as it has been a resounding cymbal to my ears and my heart provokes
my thoughts in many ways. Forgiving
myself is one of the hardest things to do; it’s right up there with forgiving
the hurt experienced from the carelessness of those close to me. But God always forgives and that forgiveness
is love. So too, then, unforgiving or
not forgiving keeps me from God.
Forgiveness, by Matthew West
It’s the hardest
thing to give away,
And the last thing
on your mind today.
It always goes to
those that don’t deserve.
It’s the opposite
of how you feel
When the pain they
caused is just too real.
It takes
everything you have to say the word…
Forgiveness;
Forgiveness.
It flies in the
face of all your pride,
It moves away the
mad inside,
It’s always
anger’s own worst enemy.
Even when the jury
and the judge
Say you got a
right to hold a grudge,
It’s the whisper
in your ear saying ‘set it free.’
Forgiveness,
Forgiveness, Forgiveness, Forgiveness.
Show me how to
love the unlovable
Show me how to
reach the unreachable
Help me now to do
the impossible.
Forgiveness,
Forgiveness;
Help me now to do
the impossible:
Forgiveness.
It’ll clear the
bitterness away,
It can even set a
prisoner free.
There is no end to
what its power can do.
So let it go and
be amazed
By what you see
through eyes of grace:
The prisoner that
it really frees is you.
Forgiveness,
Forgiveness, Forgiveness, Forgiveness.
Show me how to
love the unlovable
Show me how to
reach the unreachable
Help me now to do
the impossible:
Forgiveness.
I want to finally
set it free.
So show me how to
see what Your mercy sees.
Help me now to
give what You gave to me…
Forgiveness,
Forgiveness,
Forgiveness,
Forgiveness,
Forgiveness.
