* forgiveness

Ironically, while driving to church yesterday, I heard the following statement regarding forgiveness (more or less):  “For me forgiveness is more like a dimmer rather than an on/off switch as I have to keep returning to it.”

I write “ironically” as we start our worship services with a “Brief order of Confession and Forgiveness” in which we are told we are sinful people, for which reason we are asked to confess our sins. In response, our pastor tells us that due to the death (and resurrection) of Jesus Christ, “God forgives us all our sins… [in fact] the entire forgiveness of all your sins.”

So about the dimmer switch metaphor for forgiveness–when it comes to God forgiving us, then not so much. However, I think there’s some truth to it in terms of how I approach forgiveness.

For like an elephant, I have a long memory. Much too long where forgiveness is concerned.

But that’s not the way it’s supposed to be!