“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

I don’t know about you, but I think grandparents are some of God’s best angels here on earth.  They are different from our parents, somehow not nearly as strict with us as they probably were with them.  Every September since 1978, the first Sunday after Labor Day is celebrated as National Grandparent’s Day.  When I think of my own, I remember them with a special place in my heart.  For a number of years, I have had a copy of a writing entitled Grandma’s Apron. It talks about the apron which most of our grandmothers used for many things:  “drying tears, cleaning out dirty ears, carrying eggs and kindling as well as apples that fell from the tree, wiping a sweaty brow, as well as a last minute dusting of the furniture when unexpected company arrived.”  It ends by stating that: “They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I never caught anything from an apron…But Love.”

As much as I loved my grandma, I am sure if she was still around and had that old apron that it might give me cause for anxiety.  Recently I went to dinner with friends I hadn’t seen in awhile but with whom I used to travel on a fairly frequent basis.  No sooner had we ordered our meal, I pulled out an anti-bacterial wipe for each of us.  It had now been a number of years since we journeyed together, but they laughed remembering how I always obsessed about sanitizing before I eat. After all – even though I washed my hands immediately before I left for the restaurant, God only knows what I may have touched since then. Let’s see there were my keys, the car, several door knobs, and the menu.  Those who know me well don’t even think about playing that “Ten Second Rule” game with me whenever food is dropped on the floor.  And why would anyone even consider “double dipping” their tortilla chip into the salsa once they had taken a bite off of it!

We do know for sure our world does contain harmful bacteria and viruses that if exposed to our body under the right conditions such as a weak immune system, our physical health may be compromised. Why, then, would we think that our spiritual journey would be any different?  There are indeed secular contaminants, including those of doubt and unbelief, that can affect our walk with the Lord.  I am so fortunate that God doesn’t look at me with the same set of eyeglasses through which I sometimes view the world. In fact, when I am unclean by the sin in my life and confess it, He purifies me with the blood of Christ.  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

As Christians, we are faced with a dilemma: how to live in the world but also be detached from it. This is commonly referred to as being in the world but not of the world. “Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you'” (2 Corinthians 6:17). While we are expected to have an influence on those around us and encourage sojourners, it is important to be grounded in the Word and pray for wisdom so we are able to discern between good and evil. Just as grandma’s apron may become physically unclean with the many things it touches each day, we too are affected by spiritual uncleanness resulting from exposure to sin.  While water and some good detergent may be used to wash away the physical dirt from an apron, the spiritual cleansing we need is not solely of our own doing. “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Just like grandma’s apron reaching out to take us in, it’s the ultimate proof that we are loved.

REFLECTION:  Have you come to realize that spiritual cleansing is not something you can achieve on your own? How have you experienced God’s grace in your own life?  How do you balance “being in but not of the world?”   *For more about the Grandma’s Apron poem, go to http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/family-history/grandmas-apron-poem.html

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Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”   “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” (Joshua 5:13-14)

A friend of mine was relating a conversation to me in which she recently participated.  She had reached out and was having coffee with a former classmate who had lost her husband.  The relatively new widow reflected on the past months of her life and how difficult and different it had become.  Apparently she and her ailing husband had moved back home to live with his mother (her mother-in-law) in a house that they owned.  After the husband passed away, the ladies found that they were not compatible.  The mother-in-law decided to move out of the house where she had made her home for many years.  As she did so, the next door neighbors stopped speaking to the daughter-in law, making it unpleasant for her to live in the neighborhood.  What my friend’s classmate did not know was that my friend also knew the neighbors and had always found them to be fine Christian folk.  My friend felt like she was being pulled into a situation where she might be asked to take sides.

Life unfortunately thrusts us into many areas of conflict when we often times feel ourselves being pulled to one side or another.  These vary from having to take the part of a family member to defending someone at work whose job may be on the line.  Circumstances grow to be even more personal when friendships become compromised or divisions start to form within the body of the church.  You pray for God’s wisdom, and ask the question – “Does God ever take sides?”  And if He does, you sure hope He takes yours. But do we ever truly win if in order to do so we must destroy the opposition?  When this occurs, is God ever honored? Throughout scripture, it would seem that there were occasions when Jesus appeared to take sides (Matthew 26:6-13; Luke 7:36-50).  Often times He would take the side of the unexpected, not the proud person but the humble one who was in some way honoring God (James 4:6).

In his infinite wisdom, Abraham Lincoln was conflicted by this question of God taking sides.  He once wrote: “The will of God prevails — In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be wrong. God cannot be for, and against the same thing at the same time. In the present civil war it is quite possible that God’s purpose is somewhat different from the purpose of either party — and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect this.” We must remember that God’s ways are not of this world, therefore not our own.  God’s side, for the lack of a better understanding, is His own. His ways of dealing with conflict are very different than the world often teaches or even tries to comprehend.

Is it possible then to be on the right side of an issue from an earthly perspective but wrong in the eyes of God?  When attempting to answer this question, it is important that we stand on the side of what He has given us – His Word.  We may, in fact, be right in truth about a matter but God may not stand with us if we have not applied His Word as the standard for accomplishment. Through His Word, He has given us rather clear expectations as to how we are to interact with each other. It’s not about winning.  It’s not about pride. It is about the way we behave. If we do take sides, it should be God’s side and His alone. Are there times that rather than taking what appears to be the winning side in a human conflict, God may simply be calling upon us to surrender? Maybe so. For in surrendering to Him the world will not understand, but He will be glorified.

REFLECTION:  Are we really able to say that God is or isn’t for someone?  If you are in a conflict with fellow Believers, is it possible that it might be better to forfeit than to take sides and create a division between Christians or, even worse, form a negative image in the eyes of non-Christians?  How can we begin to honor God when in the course of our actions we destroy His children?

(MY NEXT WEEKLY DEVOTION WILL BE UPLOADED ON SAT. AUGUST 30, 2014.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF THE FREE WEEKLY POSTINGS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: LookUpwrd@aol.com  YOUR ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED)

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”  (Mark 12:30-31)

A home repairs man was doing a project at my home, and it was taking longer than I had anticipated.  Several weeks into the task, he understandably wanted to take a few days off due to the birth of a grandchild. But I must admit, I was getting tired of the mess in my house.  A few days after the grandchild was born, he came back to work and informed me that someone else needed his help.  A water heater had apparently malfunctioned in the home of another, and they asked him if he could get a new one and install it that day.  He told them that before he could say that he would, he needed to check with me because, at that time, I was the person for whom he was working.  When he asked me, I wanted to say, “Can’t they just call a plumber?”  I knew, however that a plumber would be more expensive and they might not be able to get one right away.  I also knew that had I been selfish, I would not have felt at all right about the matter.  So rather than be a complete jerk, I told him to go take care of the other people.

When Jesus stated that we should “Love our neighbor as yourself” he was asked, “And who is my neighbor?” Rather than responding by defining one’s neighbor as your family, a friend, or the person who lives next door – He told the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35).  As I came to know this Bible story as a child, I always figured that the man who had been robbed was ‘the neighbor’ because he needed help.  In other words, I thought Jesus was telling us that our neighbors are all those with whom we come in contact.  If we fail to bear in mind the end of the story (Luke 10:36-37), we can miss a vital point of His message.  While Jesus never fully answers the question, he does reveal that being a neighbor is every bit as important as trying to define who one is.

The closest thing I have ever done that even slightly resembles the story of the Samaritan happened quite a few years ago.  I was using one of those tire pump machines at the front of a local convenience store.  Not too far away, a teenager raced into the parking lot on his bike and started doing ‘wheelies.’   He was acting rather erratically, and I know it went through my mind that he might be a little hopped up on drugs or alcohol.  I continued to work on my tires, when all of a sudden the bike must have hit some loose gravel and the kid flew off the bike, hitting his head on the pavement.  There was no one else around and he wasn’t moving, so I ran into the store and told the cashier to call for an ambulance.  Then I went back outside, propped the boy’s head up, and talked with him until the ambulance arrived.  I never saw the young man after that, but I knew in my heart that what I had done was the right thing.

In many cases, we respond selfishly or aren’t sure we want to get involved.  I once knew a lady who lost her life by stopping to help someone, so I suppose that memory is always in the back of my mind. A recently released report states that half of Americans indicate that they do not even know the names of their neighbors. How sad!   For those who have the heart of a servant, how does one serve if we allow our hearts to become so hardened that we fail to involve ourselves as a neighbor with God’s people?  A true neighbor is committed to helping persons in need, and as we reach out to those whom we meet it becomes important to seek discernment and God’s wisdom in all such decision-making. However for those of us walking the Journey, caring for one’s neighbor (or acting as one) should not be a process of deliberation.  Quite frankly, if we allow ourselves to become that bogged down with the consideration, we might just miss the opportunity and become the jerk we never really set out to be.

REFLECTION:  Who do you consider to be your neighbor, and when do you classify yourself as a one?  Does ‘loving your neighbor as yourself” explain how Jesus demonstrated love to others?  Under what set of circumstances are you reluctant to be a neighbor as Jesus defined?

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“A soft and sheltered Christianity, afraid to be lean and lone, unwilling to face the storms and brave the heights, will end up fat and foul in the cages of conformity.” – Vance Havner

This week I heard two news stories that could not be anymore contrasting. The first is about a restaurant in North Carolina that gives their customers a 15% discount for praying in public.  The restaurant has apparently been administering the practice for several years. The owner, a daughter of a preacher and a missionary, says it’s a spiritual thing and not about religion; “it’s about the whole idea of gratitude.”  The discount appears on the bill labeled “praying in public” and is given randomly to some folks observed as ‘having a moment.’  Conversely, a group of Christian ladies in Georgia who, for years, have used a mall for walking recently gathered in a circle to pray before they began their walk. A security guard descended on the group to inform them that it was mall policy that prayer was not allowed.  Management claims that their ban is related to “congregating, soliciting, or disturbances.”

Not so long ago, I ran into a former work colleague.  When we worked together, I represented management and she would have been considered my subordinate.  One day, in a casual conversation she mentioned that her mother had received a cancer diagnosis.  I told her that I would remember her in my prayers. She appeared appreciative. I followed up with her on occasion to ask how her mom was doing.  It seemed to be an uncertain situation.  We have not worked together now for several years, but when I unexpectedly passed by her while shopping, we greeted each other with the typical, “Hi, good to see you.” As we parted, I remembered and said, “Oh by the way – how’s your mom?'”  I was relieved to find out that she is currently doing well. I felt blessed that we had those past moments of connection through promised prayer.

So here’s the question:  If I am out in public, whether it’s in the lunchroom at work or running into someone I know at the grocery store, which of these honors God?  To tell someone I will keep them in my prayers just to move the conversation along, or to really feel a sense of vulnerability in another person and to offer to pray to my God, not knowing whether we are even on the same Life Journey.  I think that as a Christian I must offer what I have; in this case belief in the power of prayer.  If it is done for the right reasons and in the right way, we are serving God and the honor and glory are His. Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven”  (Matthew10:32).

Public acknowledgement of Jesus is more than just responding to an alter call at church. Prayer is a vital aspect of Christian living, and at times public identification with prayer demonstrates who we are.  We are to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  We should, therefore, pray or extend the offer of prayer anywhere, as long as we do it for the right reasons.  Jesus cautioned, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men”  (Matthew 6:5).  So to our friends at the restaurant in North Carolina – it shouldn’t be about the 15%.  To the walkers in Georgia, find another place to walk where you can have a quiet prayer. If by ‘having a moment’ our focus is on Christ and not ourselves, then it doesn’t much matter where we are.  For it was never about us in the first place.

REFLECTION:  Do you bow your head or otherwise pray in public?  Accordingly, what is your motivation to do so?  If you participate in public prayer get-togethers, is the purpose of the gathering to honor God or to make an impression on others?  Even though our truest prayers may be in our private times with God or in a worship setting, is there a time and a place to exercise prayer in public?

(MY NEXT WEEKLY DEVOTION WILL BE UPLOADED ON SAT. AUGUST 16, 2014.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF THE FREE WEEKLY POSTINGS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: LookUpwrd@aol.com  YOUR ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED)

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”         (Hebrews 10:23-24)

This past week, I received a promotional advertisement in the mail for a plate featuring a Rockwell painting.  I recalled a story I had heard years ago about this beloved artist.  It is one of contrast between the personal rearing of the painter and what is reflected in his art.  Rockwell was born and raised for awhile in New York City, and he did not have a particularly close relationship with his parents.  It is related that at an early age, he went up to the rooftop of the boarding home where his family lived.  There he was greatly affected by what was displayed in the realities on the street below. The images ranged from gangs fighting with bicycle chains to a drunken beating by a woman who used an umbrella as her weapon.  His work revealed little of his own turmoil or the nation’s. In fact, over the decades he charmed that same nation with an idealism that was respected on covers of magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post.  He is quoted as having stated, “The view of life I communicate in my pictures excludes the sordid and ugly. I paint life as I would like it to be.”  I suppose that he communicated for all of us a better picture of America than we sometimes are while at the same time giving us the sense of optimism and hope we all need.

It is not unusual in our daily walk that we find ourselves in a position where we are either creating or exposed to images that may be different than reality. We are bombarded each day with various forms of advertising which by its very purpose only presents the best exaggerated perspective of the product being offered.  Likewise, our work situations may require us to convey the most positive image in order to sell ourselves or encourage others to conduct themselves in a manner that meets the company’s expectation.  In our home life, we need to model behaviors for our children that we want them to develop. Or at times, it may be necessary to put up a good front and provide a calming effect for someone who may be ill or under distress.  So for many reasons, things are not always what they seem.

For those who Journey with Christ, the task before us is not any more ideal.  In fact, it may be less so. We learn to embrace values such as hope, faith, peace, grace, service, and joy. But it isn’t always easy to continually reflect them.  I once knew a chaplain in a social ministry setting who was very critical of some of the workers there because he felt that they should exude more joy through the nature of their work.  Interestingly enough, there were times he could be one of the most joyless persons I ever knew.  It becomes vitally important that “we walk the walk as we talk the talk” especially during those periods when we don’t feel like it.  We do so “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”  (Ephesians 4:12-13).

Perhaps, then, we are not so different than Rockwell. We paint our space to be a better place than it sometimes is.  Appropriately so, because we must demonstrate Jesus to the world around us. So there will be those times when we feel robbed of the energy to positively reflect on the canvas of Life. We must remember, however, that we are shaping our souls to automatically do the right thing when we are challenged. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed.”  (1 Peter 1:13).  For when we do this, we can be certain that we are also painting the picture as He would like it to be.

REFLECTION:  Do you sometimes find it difficult to offer an appropriate display of Christian values when you are just not quite feeling it?  Conversely, do you feel less than sincere when you mirror what you should do but don’t really mean it?  Does it help when you understand that regardless of your feelings, you may be the only Jesus some will ever see?

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“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Concluding that “being ‘friended’ isn’t the same as having friends,” Eliza Dooley (the main character in a new TV show this Fall) is obsessed with the use of social media but has very few social graces.  It’s a  commentary about our crazed society that’s preoccupied with Instagram and Facebook and fails to make tangible relationship connections.  It will be interesting to see if the transformation of the sitcom characters has any impact on those who are self-absorbed within their own world of posts, tweets, and the latest Selfie (which by the way serves as the title for the show). My guess is, “Not.”

Recently during the Tour de France, warnings had to be issued to observers to stay off the road while taking ‘selfies’ as the bikers passed by.  In some cases, the participants actually ran into people in the crowd who were in the biking path while engaged in shooting photos of themselves with bikers in the background.  The act has been labeled by some as “a dangerous mix of vanity and stupidity.” Likewise in Pamplona, Spain during the annual Running of the Bulls celebration, the practice of taking ‘extreme selfies’ had been outlawed earlier this year.  As if the exercise of running with the bulls is not in and of itself perilous, the law states that anyone who endangers his or her life by taking a selfie during the bull run can be fined.

Nowadays, it seems like the ‘selfie mindset’ has led to selfishness.  This has increased over many decades, long before personal electronic devices were a compulsion. It appears to have exponentially gotten worse with the impact of social media. Our culture is engrained in the philosophy “take care of you first, because if you don’t, no one else will.”  I fully understand the argument that if we don’t look after oneself, we won’t be able to care for others.  But I think it also has become symptomatic of a society that has grown to be so self-absorbed that we frequently fail to graciously interact with one another.  In his letter to the Church at Philippi, Paul said, ^“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselvesnot looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

It gives me a sense of wonderment to question what kind of a self-centered world we live in when people who actually don’t like the way they look in their Facebook and Instagram photos get facial implants and grafts done to improve their ‘selfie-look’.  I don’t think that’s at all what Jesus had in mind when He said, “For whoever wants to save their lifewill lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25).  A substantive life focused on the ability to love, perform acts of service, and embrace moral values might rather be the journey Christ would desire for each of us. “And He said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me’ ” (Luke 9:23). While the ‘selfie’ may, in fact, someday be seen as a passing sensation, I’m not convinced the fixation with self rather than others will be.  And that should frighten us all just a little.

REFLECTION: As you think about your personal Journey, are you focused more on the internal or the external?  Are you content with your life as it is, or do need reaffirmation from others who provide you continual feedback through today’s many social media platforms?  While it may be important to sometimes be affirmed by others, do you have opportunities to receive that through interpersonal (face-to-face) contacts?  Does your Faith Journey play a part in the way you interact with others?

(MY NEXT WEEKLY DEVOTION WILL BE UPLOADED ON SAT. JULY 26, 2014.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF THE FREE WEEKLY POSTINGS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: LookUpwrd@aol.com  YOUR ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED)

“If we stand where others have fallen, it’s to raise our hands to Heaven in praise and to spread our arms as shade for the weary. The Lord enables us to be a tree of rest for others.”        (Julie Ackerman Link in Our Daily Bread)

One day I visited with a lady from my church.  She was in her mid-nineties and her body was playing out.  Several times we felt that she was dying, but she always managed to bounce back.  I had no reason to believe that this time would be any different.  However as I knelt at her bedside, there seemed to be a change.  She looked up at me, squeezed my hand, and said – “Pray that the Lord will take me.”  I smiled, held onto her hand and replied, “You’re still here, so God must continue to have a purpose for you.”  Without hesitation and a bit of a twinkle in her eye, she reacted, “Now just what would that be?”  I didn’t know how to respond, but God answered her prayer within a short time.

On another occasion, I looked out the window of my first floor office.  It was evident that a nasty storm was brewing in the distance. The sky was getting quite dark, and lightning was flashing in the mountains beyond.  Immediately in front of the building was a worker mowing the grassy area that contained a few shade trees. Several people had gathered there to converse on a nearby bench.  I felt very uneasy and promptly went outside to encourage everyone to take shelter due to the impending storm.  They respected my concern, came into the office waiting area, and within minutes a very loud clash of thunder and a sharp bolt of lightning struck the ground outside damaging one of the trees.  Not only did the building shake but I did also, realizing that just a few minutes before those folks had been out on the front lawn.  I think we all learned an important lesson that day: theirs, to come inside when the skies look threatening; and mine, a bit more philosophical – life is not done as long as God has a purpose.  I was sure that tree would die.  Now many years later, it remains quite beautiful.

In each of our lives, we can sometimes feel like our life is over, especially after tragedy strikes.  But sometimes it’s just a bend in the road, and God allows us to walk down a new path in our Journey.  It is during those stretches that we draw close to Him and come to realize that “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).  Like my older friend who felt she had no more to give, we can also on occasion feel like we are a mirror image of our former self.  It is then that God steps in and restores our worth through grace.  In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul echoed this sentiment:  “So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace” (Romans 11:5).

We would be wise, therefore, to understand that in God’s eyes we always have worth and His hope for us never dies.  In our darkest hours, in the worst of storms, and even in our utmost frailties – we hold on to these words:  “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). As you gain in strength, you will be able to raise your arms and provide shade for the weary. In doing so, we offer a witness to others who may follow by our example.  For according to the Greek Proverb, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.” Time to do some planting?

REFLECTION:  How do you define significance in your own Journey?  Is your personal worth cluttered by wealth, status, or recognition for good works?  What is your mission for the next season of life?  Will you leave a legacy that affirms God’s purpose?

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“But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, those who pursue me.”  (Psalm 31:14-15)

Acknowledged to be a fine scholar, he had translated the Declaration of Independence into seven European languages.  He was also known to be a humanitarian who had treated wounded soldiers during the Revolutionary War. He was Peter Miller, and his name was recognized by General George Washington.  One day another man, Michael Wittman, was arrested for treason and sentenced to death.  On hearing this news, Miller traveled seventy miles to Philadelphia to plead for this man’s life.  He was admitted into Washington’s presence, and he begged for the life of the traitor. Washington informed him that he could not grant the life of Miller’s friend.  “Friend!” exclaimed Peter.  “Why he is no friend of mine.  He is my bitterest enemy.  He has even beaten me and spit in my face.  Michael Wittman is no friend of mine.”  Washington was so impressed by Miller’s act of Christian charity that he issued the pardon, and Peter Miller took Michael Wittman from the very shadow of death back to his own home.

This past week, Louis Zamperini, an American prisoner of war in World War II and Olympic runner whose life inspired the book and upcoming feature film Unbroken, died at the age of 97.  The book, written by Laura Hillenbrand and published in 2010, covers Zamperini’s life from childhood through his capture by the Japanese after his plane crashed into the Pacific. There, he lived on a flotation raft for forty-seven days. Taken to a POW camp known as Execution Island, he was tortured for two years until his release at the end of the war.  His story is described as one of “survival, resilience and redemption.” After his return to the States, he was haunted by the memories of war and turned to alcoholism.  Years later, he was compelled to return to Japan to face the prison guards who had tried to destroy him. There he forgave those who had tormented him.

So what is the common thread that runs through each of these stories?  I would say it’s being able to move on with life and feel free through forgiveness. General Washington asked Peter Miller why he would ask for the pardon of his worst enemy.  His reply: “I ask because Jesus did as much for me.” He embraced Paul’s thoughts: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  (Ephesians 4:31-32).  As for Zamperini – at a low point in his life, he attended a prayer service where he heard Billy Graham speak on the power of forgiveness; and that changed the course of his life. He remembered the prayer he had uttered on the life raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean: “If you will save me, I will serve you forever.”  He set on a mission to forgive his captors and was able to fulfill the scripture, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”  (Hebrews 10:17)

During an interview in later years, Loius Zamperini was asked if he thought Americans forgive enough. His response: “No, I think the hardest thing in life I’ve done is forgive. Hate is self-destructive. If you hate somebody, you’re not hurting the person you hate, you’re hurting yourself. It’s a healing . . . actually it’s a real healing . . . forgiveness.”  It would be best if we could make forgiveness a normal part of our Journey. Martin Luther King once said that, “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”  On this holiday weekend, we must remember that the nation whom we fought so hard for our independence went from being our worst enemy then to one of our greatest allies today.  As far as our personal lives are concerned, someone once said: “The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.”  Let it be so for each of us.

REFLECTION:  Are there any sins committed against you that you don’t have to forgive? If there is a person or situation you don’t want to forgive, are you willing to pray that God will change your heart?  Can you understand that forgiveness is more than a feeling? It is a decision.  If you say you can forgive but not forget, is it possible that forgiveness may not have occurred?

For an expanded version of the Peter Miller Story, go to: http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=baldwin&book=deeds&story=forge

For a video clip of Louis Zamperini from May, 2012, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0pulc6kDsk

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