Forgiveness
Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,
On Monday, a group of us gathered for the first discussion of our summer read. It was a fantastic conversation: honest and thoughtful about Part One of Desmond Tutu's The Book of Forgiving. One of the things I really like about this book is something Tutu acknowledges early on: we all have some sense that forgiveness is good for us, that it's something we should do, that it's something God wants us to do since God has forgiven us. But what does that really mean? What does forgiveness mean? And why is the actual doing of it so mysterious?
This book offers concrete steps, meditations, and practices for you to try as you consider the places where you need forgiveness and the places where you need to learn to forgive. In many ways, it's a primer. Tackling one of the key challenges and graces of our faith. It's easy to read and the stories within will challenge you to see forgiveness as something that leads to peace. In fact, Tutu suggests that it is in receiving forgiveness and learning to forgive that we heal ourselves - and the whole world. One heart at a time.
If you haven't picked it up yet, it's not too late. We'll have two more conversations later this summer - the next one on August 2nd about Part Two. If you missed the conversation - or have to miss them all - that's okay, too. Read the book anyway. I'd love to hear what you think. And I'd love for us to learn together, as a community, what it means to find peace through offering and receiving forgiveness. If you need help tracking down a copy, just let me know. I'd be glad to help.
I hope you're all having a wonderful summer - I can't believe how far into it we already are. I hope to see you on Sunday. Until then, God bless you and keep you.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
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