I have a friend who wrote and said, “I hope you can forgive E.”
I guess I hope so too.
I know I am supposed to forgive. I am not sure what that looks like.
Does it look like waving when we pass on the road? I think I can do that.
Does it look like smiling at church? I think I can do that.
Does it look like having a conversation? I don’t know if I can do that.
Does it look like serving together as leaders? I don’t think I can do that.
Does it look like coffee? I don’t know if I can do that.
Does it look like friendship? I don’t think I can do that.
He crucified me. I don’t think I could do that either at least not on purpose.
I am pretty sure crucifixion is what forgiveness looks like.
Jesus did.
I once heard forgiveness described as not thinking the person “owed” you, that they were in debt to you for what they had done. It does not mean that you now entrust yourself fully to them, or ignore what sort of person they are. You forgive the debt owed, but don’t allow them to become indebted to you again. You trust them only so far and in those areas as you know them to be trustworthy.
I think it looks like, ” I’ll keep praying for them until I don’t feel like a hypocrite anymore – however long that takes.” For what it’s worth, I agree with Steve, we only have to forgive – not trust.