Our lectionary over the past few weeks has been making sure that we know how important forgiveness is. And this Sunday’s readings are no exception. As I sat down to write this blog post, the one thought that would not leave me was how important it is to forgive ourselves first. We hear about forgiving those that have wronged us a lot. We don’t hear much about how we should forgive ourselves.
Yet, the message is clear in the readings this Sunday. We cannot begin to forgive those around us unless we first open our hearts and minds to forgiving ourselves of those things we have done wrong. I hear many Christians talk about the hurt, pain, and suffering they carry with them over things in the past that they wish they could redo. We tend to carry the mistakes of the past with us much longer than we should.
Bishop Desmond Tutu once said, “Because forgiveness is like this: a room can be dank because you have closed the windows, you’ve closed the curtains. But the sun is shining outside, and the air is fresh outside. In order to get that fresh air, you have to get up and open the window and draw the curtains apart.”
Forgiveness in our Christian walk is a two-way street. If you have never been told, then allow me to tell you, open the windows, forgive yourself! Let go of the pain, hurt, and baggage of your past and live your best you!
It is not always easy, but the benefit of forgiving yourself can save your life.
Pax et Bonum,
Bishop Greer