Ooops

Went to the Embassy Suites today to sell some jewelry at one of those "We buy everything shows" and as I was upstairs talking with the appraiser, John went downstairs to look for a mail box. 15 minutes later I walked out the door and John is upset telling me this man hit him and pushed him down! The man was yelling something about John trying to take his customers from him all week, and the manager was on the phone calling the police! I tried to tell the guy we'd only been there less than 20 minutes and that we were selling not buying, so he had the wrong person. Then we found out he was the guy running the show at the hotel! The police came and long story short the man appologized to John and me, and asked for our forgiveness; I think this was because he realized we could have him arrested or sue him and the hotel.  Well this was his lucky day, we didn't press charges, we are Christians and it is lent, so we forgave him. Unfortunately for him he shook John's hand and John's been sick all week, and of course I'm on Facebook and I can tell everyone to stay away from his show ;-)

Locking Horns

Last night as I watched Nature on PBS, I watched male deers fight as they were vying for position in the herd. The most dominant one crashing his huge antlers into the antlers of his competition. Although violent to watch, most battles are over with minor injuries and the dominant male claims his harem. In the Alps, where this was filmed, the rutting season ends and snow covers the hillsides. But come spring, the snow melts uncovering the few casualties of the rut. Buried beneath the snow lies the remains of two males, who have starved to death, their horns locked together forever.
As I pondered this grizzly scene I remembered my step father saying to me as we fought about something long ago "You don't want to lock horns with me!" Even then I knew it had something to do with butting heads. But as I look back now, a new layer of meaning is uncovered--the fights, although a natural part of life, become dangerous and life threatening when we stubbornly refuse to forgive. Not forgiving keeps us in bondage until our death to the one we feel wronged by.

God calls us to forgive, as Jesus told Peter in Matthew 18:21 "Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered "I tell you, not seven times, but seven times seven." He tells us that knowing that to forgive enables us to be forgiven. Forgiveness is freedom.