The other day as I was leaving for work, I promised Jace I would take him for a bike ride as soon as I got home. Normally I love going on bike rides with Jace. The weather this fall has been perfect, the trees are beautiful shades of reds and oranges, and we have some great trails in our neighborhood.
Unfortunately, that afternoon the weather made a dramatic change, dropping 30 degrees with a light rain. As I pulled in the driveway and Jace ran outside to greet me, I remembered my earlier promise.
I let Jace down as easy as possible, and told him that there was no way we were going for a bike ride in that weather. He was obviously disappointed and didn't understand why we couldn't just wear a jacket and 'be tough'. After confessing that I wasn't as tough or brave as him, and explaining how sorry I was that I wouldn't be able to fulfill my promise, a funny thing happened. He said, "Daddy, that's okay I forgive you." Just like that. Simple forgiveness. No strings attached. No blackmailing involved. Just instant forgiveness.
It made me wonder, how come I can't forgive as quickly and completely as a six year old? Why am I more interested in restitution, retribution, and retaliation and not so concerned with forgiveness?
I'm a justice guy. I want wrongs fixed, evil banished, poverty eliminated, class structures dissolved, and equality for all. I like to think this was what Jesus was all about, but I'm only half right. The truth is justice oftentimes becomes misdirected and perverted into boycotting companies, preaching against people who have never and will never attend your church, and putting distance between people who don't think like you.
Justice only works within the framework of forgiveness. I don't want to become 'that guy' with the cheap suit, a safe cocoon of empty faith but lofty idealism, and little effect on real people who aren't programmed to think just like me. I want to get my hands dirty, my faith stretched and tested, and see people transformed by truth and forgiveness.
So I'm making a new commitment to follow Paul's instructions to Timothy, "to be strong in grace". For every person I don't get along with, who thinks differently than me, or has hurt me in some way, here are 5 ways that I'm going to to start walking in forgiveness and truth.
1. Celebrate their successes
2. Cover their weaknesses
3. Seek peace
4. Ask for amnesia
5. Walk in a deeper intimacy with the Holy Spirit
I bless you to embrace relationships that force you to grow, think, and pursue Christ in a more authentic way.
