Forgiveness

for·give·ness

   [fer-giv-nis]  Show IPA

noun

1.

act of forgiving; state of being forgiven.

2.

disposition or willingness to forgive.

Today's theme in church was forgiveness. Around 2 years ago, the First United church that i have attended for my whole life, was burned down. It was arson. Although it was upsetting for everyone, many people have forgiven the young man who was held responsible for the crime. But there are still lots of people who have not yet forgiven him. 

Todays service was focused on trying to get everyone to accept what has happened, and forgive the man who is now hopefully regretting his actions.

A tribe in Africa was brought up by our minister Ruth. She explained how this tribe dealt with their 'criminals'. The wrongdoer must stand in the middle of the town, alone. The whole town stops doing what their doing, and every single person, the young ones and the very old ones gather and make a circle around the 'criminal'. They go around the circle to each person, and each person has to say every nice thing that the 'criminal' has done for them, or to them. 

This is something that Jesus would have done. I wish that the rest of the world worked this way. I think that it would make our world much more peaceful, accepting, and most importantly...forgiving.