Let's start with forgiveness.........

"God, I want some of that healing and mending.  How about you fix those others who are causing all the wounds of this world?  I want a kinder, gentler world."

"I can work with that," Jesus says.  "You are forgiven."


"I don't want to be forgiven.  I want peace and quiet."

"Well, you can't get peace and quiet unless you get a handle of how loud you are yourself.  You contribute to the noise you know.  You have bruised a few people in your time."

"But those were little things.  Not important.  I'm talking about all the big things:  oppressive economic systems, racism, those foreigners who want to live in my neighborhood, criminals.  Those kinds of things."


"All those big things start with very little things.  Decisions and choices made day by day.  By people just like you.  I remember that little nastiness with the check out clerk when she got the change wrong."

"She should have been paying more attention to me, and less to her 'friend.'"

"Yes, lack of attention is indeed an on-going problem.  And blindness.  Folks cannot see themselves in the mirror.  It's an epidemic.  Still I forgive you."

"I'm not in need of forgiveness.  I need a kinder, gentler world."

"Well, how about we start with forgiveness and see where it goes from there?"