That seventy times seven stuff

    Forgiveness is probably one of the most difficult things for us as humans to unpack and acheive. Sins committed and sins levelled on us are such personal and hard things to forget or forgive. In fact I have many times heard someone say, I will forgive but I will never forget.  I am not immune from this mentality. But I do know that there is a better way, the way of the Cross and the way that Jesus spoke about and lived ( and died ) by.

     Forgiveness brings into play the personal emotions of our intimate lives that we just can't seem to forget. And yet there are those instances where a rape victim or the parent of a murdered child comes to court to tell the perp that they are forgiven. I often wonder where that strength ( or stupidity ) comes from. I know that our judgements and failure to forgive are rooted in what we consider justice. Forget about eternal damantion, we want justice by our own terms in this realm, in this life , even it could mean taking a life. 

      Perhaps it is splitting hairs but I can see forgiving for a sin, others or my own, accepting it, owning it and  feeling fine with it and all while still saying, but you still must be punished.  This is how I see someone going to hell. I don't beleive that God sends anyone to Hell ( if there indeed is one ). God forgives with the same compassion and more that a parent could hardly condemn thier own earthly child.  No, God is all forgiving. It is why I think God weeps and greives when we choose sin, evil and the other path by condemning ourselves to Hell. We do it, not God; our choice.

        While I struggle with forgiveness, I know that part of forgiveness is that peice where we allow God to do the judging. We may insist of earthly punishment for certain actiual crimes but we are called to a higher plain wher we forgive as God forgives, sveenty times seven ( Mt. 18:22 ). This number is not 490 either, numeralogically, seven is a number associated with infinity so Jesus is saying in essence, forgive always, every time.  A tough nut to swallow for sure. 

       If we fail in our efforts we are really condemning ourselves as unfaithful but perhaps even more, condemning ourselves to a life of backward thinking hate.  This lack of forgiveness will eat away at us like a cancer.  This is not forgiving and not forgetting though. This is total forgiveness, letting it go into God's hands or Karma's hands. It allows us to let go and move forward. The sin is left with the perpetrator and leaves us free.

Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name. 

Your kingdom come.
   Your will be done,
     on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts,
     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
     but rescue us from the evil one.