I came across this poem that I wrote at about this time last year. I found it fitting for the Easter season and I wanted to share.
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness in its purest form was epitomized on the day God came to Earth as an infant who exited the birth canal into a stack of wet hay. Forgiveness did not lie on a soft blanket in a cool room, but instead forgiveness squirmed around, kicking and screaming into the dark night as a star drifted brightly a thousand miles above.
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness was the moment when the infant born among barn animals waded into the warm water of the Jordan River. In that moment before submersion, all the world went silent as creation watched grace take the shape of a grown man. Then as the man re-emerged from under the waves, creation bowed down and the heavens split open. “This is my son with whom I am well pleased,” spoke the Father as the Spirit enveloped the man that was forgiveness.
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness is the act of sitting among thieves, prostitutes, crooks, and lepers. Though holy and righteous, forgiveness chose to dine with sinners in an act of great love. Forgiveness is the moment when the hand that would later be pierced in execution reached down to heal the sick and hug the widow. Forgiveness is the act of loving and living among those who were rebellious and sinful, weak and foolish.
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness is what was birthed by a prayer in a garden. On the cool, dark night among the flowers the decision was made: Not my will but yours be done.
Forgiveness is the moment before Pontius Pilate when the crowd shouted, “Guilty!” at a man who stood innocent yet surrendered to his fate. Forgiveness is the moment when the man fell to his knees under the crack of a whip on his back. As his flesh was torn open by the thorny crown shoved into his temple, he stood and remembered the prayer in the garden. He remembered the days spent among sinners. He remembered the moment he emerged from under the waves of his baptism. He remembered those first moments of life in a barn.
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness is the journey through the streets to the site of suffering. Forgiveness is found when the tortured man dragged the symbol of his execution past crowds of people who continued to yell, “Guilty! Guilty is he, ‘King of the Jews!’”
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness is the moment when nails were slammed into his wrists and ankles. Forgiveness is the surge of pain he felt as the iron rods split his veins and scraped his bones.
Forgiveness is the agony in his final moments. As the blood drained out of him, twisting down his bruised body, as his lungs tightened in desperation – forgiveness is in his last thoughts:
You’re worth it. You’re worth it and I love you.
