Forgiveness

A reflection

Forgiveness runs in two directions, and both are hard. Receiving it means believing that what God says about you is truer than what your memory says. Scripture is startlingly generous here: as far as the east is from the west. Not partly removed. Not held in reserve. Offering forgiveness is different work, often slower, and it does not mean pretending harm did not happen or returning to danger. It means gradually setting down the right to make someone pay. That can take a long time, and beginning is enough for today. If you cannot forgive yet, you can be honest about that in prayer, which is itself a step.