Forgiveness

To forgive someone is an act of gift-giving.

Forgiveness, for me, doesn't come easy. I have to work at it, decide to do it... often against my first inclination.

Deep down most people know it is something one ought to do (if not for the other person, then for one's self.) So it is fairly common to hear people say "I forgive you" after an apology. Or during a chat with Jack, he tells you about a problem he has with Jill, and rants a bit about but at some point comes to the place where he states "oh, I forgive her, but I just don't think she should have..."

It's that "but" that tips the listener that true forgiveness has taken place.

Now,I don't mean to highlight Jack half-forgiveness... rather I want to point out how beautiful is real forgiveness.

If you are like me, when someone wrongs you, it takes awhile to want to forgive it. But eventually you get to the place where you decide to forgive them. Some time passes. And you feel like you have forgiven them, and you think you have forgiven them... but then something reminds your of the wrong, and you find your still upset.

This is only partially-accomplished forgiveness.

I think true forgiveness must involve an element of forgetting, entirely. By this definition, it probably required a power outside of one's self. For who can will their mind to forget?

So, I say forgiveness is a gift in the truest sense of the word: something supplied by an outsider. Something handed over without deserving or balance due.

And this description fits the forgiver and the one forgiven. Both receive.

Forgiveness is a gift.

Alternative Christmas Gift

Is this term new to you? It was new to me just a couple years ago.

No, its not a way to try to take Christ out of Christmas. In fact, I think it accomplishes something close to the opposite: reclaiming a selflessness to the idea of giving gifts to celebrate the birth of Christ...

Perhaps in reaction to the materialism of our age as it crescendos in December each year, some ministries have given people like you and me the chance to buy a gift for our loved ones that is actually not for them, but a (tax-deductible) contribution to a not-for-profit which is made in honor of that loved one.

Please, dear Reader, feel free to comment with your favorite such opportunities. As your comments and my thoughts develop, I'll add more this list:

• Wycliffe USA Gift Catalog (submitted by Me, shamelessly, and with full disclosure that this is my employer)
• Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog (suggested by "Chris" [last name unknown])
• World Vision Gift Catalog (suggested by anonymous) Regarded by many as "the king of Web-based fundraising" among Christian organizations. Clicking this link in the next month or so will play the video automatically but I doubt after 12/31 they will have it up, so if you are visiting this page after that, sorry.
• more... ?

Giving is a privledge

One verse of the Bible that seems to be a thought around which my life and calling centers is 2nd Corinthians, chapter 8, verse 3 and 4...

One has to read the whole chapter to get the context, but if you trust me then you will let me summarize the context: Paul is writing to people in Corinth about the extraordinary giving of the Macedonians, a peer group of Christians, with the intent of encouraging and stretching their generosity in giving.

... I guess I really connect with and am challenged by the quality of desire to be involved on the part of the Macedonians: "begging for the opportunity to take care of the needs of others" [my paraphrase].

There is much more to say on this, which I look forward to doing in later posts. But I'm also committed to making posts here brief.

I wanted this, my first, post on this blog to be core to what I believe I am called to be and promote:
an encouragement toward generosity.