Unanticipated

Then the guy in the purple hanging-around-the-neck thingee gets up and starts talking. Something about how Mary's initial response to the Annunciation is a lot like our initial response to seemingly impossible circumstances. "Nope, nope, can't be done. Uhn-uh. No way."

But the story takes a turn when the angel answers her objection: "With God, all things are possible." Oh, how nice. I can see where this is going....

I've heard it said that forgiving someone doesn't mean you excuse what that person did, but it does mean you let go of your need for payback. Do I pass that test? I think so. At one point, I would have enjoyed nothing more than trashing this man's reputation. (Thank God, I resisted the temptation.) Now ... no. But what about this lingering discomfort?

This whole "what forgiveness looks like in practical terms" thing starts making my head hurt. I begin to think I'm never going to get it. It's not the first time I've pondered it vis-a-vis this relationship, and I still don't feel settled about it.

But what was that about "impossible?"

[via The Accidental Anglican]