Community is not possible without the willingness to forgive one another "77 times" (Matt. 18:22). Forgiveness is the cement of community life. Forgiveness holds us together through good & bad times & it allows us to grow in mutual love.
But what is there to forgive or to ask forgiveness for? As people who have hearts that long for perfect love, we have to forgive one another for not being able to give or receive that perfect love in our everyday lives. Our many needs constantly interfere with our desire to be therefore the other unconditionally. Our love is always limited by spoken or unspoken conditions. What needs to be forgiven? We need to forgive one another for not being God! (from Bread For the Journey, A Daybook of Wisdom & Faith, Henri J. M. Nouwen, 1997)
Fine. ARGH! Oh dear... hahaha.
No comments:
Post a Comment