Today’s Readings: Psalm 119:97-152; Exodus 19:16-25; Luke 17:1-10; Romans 15:7-13
As someone who was born and raised in a small town with a population of less than 3,000; I can tell you there are many positive things a person picks up in such a setting. For instance, growing up in a small town teaches you that everyone has to jump in and contribute in order for the community to succeed. Small town life also teaches you the importance of learning a wide variety of skills since you don’t have many experts in small towns to take care of things for you. While these first two lessons are helpful, there’s another thing you learn growing up in a small town that has proven invaluable in my life and ministry. That lesson? Never burn a bridge. Let me unpack that saying for you. You see in big cities, it’s easy to get mad at someone and tell them off since – chances are – you won’t see that person again unless you want to. In small towns, however, that’s not the case. If some ticks you off, chances are your paths will continue to cross for many years to come. The person who abruptly pulls in ahead of you and takes that prime parking spot very well could be your child’s soccer coach. Or the person that pushes in and takes the last gallon of milk in the cooler at the grocery store might be your boss. And the person who accidentally backs into your mailbox and knocks it over probably sings with you in the choir at church. Consequently, you can never let an emotion completely take over and put important your relationships in jeopardy. On those rare occasions when you did lose control, there was one - and only one - thing that could bail you out and maintain your relationship: forgiveness. I was reminded of this piece of my small town wisdom when I read Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel reading (“If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times throughout the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive him” – Luke 17:3-4 from The Message). Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel reading point us toward the pivotal role forgiveness plays in our lives. It can keep us in right relationship with our sisters and brothers; it can keep us in right relationship with God! So the question I’ll leave you with today is this: what role does forgiveness play in your daily life? Is it something you regularly sacrifice in order for you to have the personal satisfaction of lashing out at others; or is forgiveness for you a spiritual discipline that helps you maintain bridges that help connect you – to other people and to God? Til next time…
As someone who was born and raised in a small town with a population of less than 3,000; I can tell you there are many positive things a person picks up in such a setting. For instance, growing up in a small town teaches you that everyone has to jump in and contribute in order for the community to succeed. Small town life also teaches you the importance of learning a wide variety of skills since you don’t have many experts in small towns to take care of things for you. While these first two lessons are helpful, there’s another thing you learn growing up in a small town that has proven invaluable in my life and ministry. That lesson? Never burn a bridge. Let me unpack that saying for you. You see in big cities, it’s easy to get mad at someone and tell them off since – chances are – you won’t see that person again unless you want to. In small towns, however, that’s not the case. If some ticks you off, chances are your paths will continue to cross for many years to come. The person who abruptly pulls in ahead of you and takes that prime parking spot very well could be your child’s soccer coach. Or the person that pushes in and takes the last gallon of milk in the cooler at the grocery store might be your boss. And the person who accidentally backs into your mailbox and knocks it over probably sings with you in the choir at church. Consequently, you can never let an emotion completely take over and put important your relationships in jeopardy. On those rare occasions when you did lose control, there was one - and only one - thing that could bail you out and maintain your relationship: forgiveness. I was reminded of this piece of my small town wisdom when I read Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel reading (“If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times throughout the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive him” – Luke 17:3-4 from The Message). Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel reading point us toward the pivotal role forgiveness plays in our lives. It can keep us in right relationship with our sisters and brothers; it can keep us in right relationship with God! So the question I’ll leave you with today is this: what role does forgiveness play in your daily life? Is it something you regularly sacrifice in order for you to have the personal satisfaction of lashing out at others; or is forgiveness for you a spiritual discipline that helps you maintain bridges that help connect you – to other people and to God? Til next time…
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