Unexpected Twist

Derek was telling a story yesterday, and the tune was a familiar one. Anxiety in the church. People telling lies. Secret meetings. Under-handed play. Back biting, and the like. Then, he said something and my head shot straight up. He said, “…..my struggle was not against flesh and blood….the moment it was about the person, not the struggle, I took a step back……people were only upset because people were upset, no one actually knew why……..once they were all gone, we actually could start to do, what we had always wanted to do to begin with….” I thought about this for a long time. It was nothing knew but when you hear it sometimes in a different place, when someone else says it….it can start to sink in better. Then Derek began to talk about forgiveness. It was the first time in my life I have ever heard anyone talk about it in this way. He used an onion to describe it. Saying that forgiveness is like an onion that has many layers, and when something new comes up, you have to take it, deal with it, and peel back that layer. We sometimes think of forgiveness as something that has to be dealt with, and then done. Instant satisfaction, instant healing. But that is not how that works. He said a lot more things about forgiveness. Some I wish I could describe better, and some that were meant for my heart only. But I have been thinking about it….dealing with it. I am glad I decided to come here, to this church that rises so high in stature, but has problems just like the rest. I look around me now, and though I have only been here a week, I have already been surrounded in the love. It is evident that whatever problems were before, have been dealt with. There is new life. Spring has come. To look around here, this place where me, my heart, and all my dealings/trappings are welcome gives me an inexplicably wonderful sense of comfort. And hope. Hope. Hope that new life can begin again.