Forgiveness
FORGIVENESS. It's at the heart of the Good News. It's a topic we love to talk *about*. And yet it's so hard to practice in reality. Forgiveness is not the same as overlooking a fault. To overlook something is to choose in your mind to say it's just not a big deal -- "s'ka problem!" Forgiving, on the other hand, means it *is* a big deal and I *am* hurt, but... Ah, that beautiful word, "but"... In many cases conflict comes as a result of a misunderstanding ("Oh, is *that* what you meant?! I thought you meant ..."). When that is the case then when we have corrected the understanding then the issue is over. No forgiveness is necessary. But when real offense has occurred, when real hurt has been inflicted ... that's when real forgiveness becomes necessary. And being "proven" right or wrong in a given conflict largely becomes a side issue at that point... Once God breaks past my pride then whether I am...