Father Forgive

The result of a bit of a "pity party" over the past few days, ironically prompted by feeling that others were being self-centred, and reading 2 pieces: one by a colleague reflecting on the importance of forgiveness for breaking the legacy-logjam here in Northern Ireland and another noting the important place of confession and the declaration of forgiveness in public worship. Of course the two are interlinked just as the awareness of our need for forgiveness and our need to forgive are linked. Too often we see ourselves as wronged without recognizing our own shortcomings... Although occasionally we can beat ourselves up without recognizing that our failures are partly what marks us out as no different from every other fallible human being.

Father, forgive them, 

for they don’t know what they are doing.

They don’t see the full picture.

They judge me, and others

By their standards,

Assuming the worst,

Resulting in the worst.

Father, forgive them, 

for I don’t know what they are doing.

They don’t see the full picture.

I, and others, judge them

By unrealistic standards,

Expecting the worst,

Revelling in the worst.

Father, forgive me, 

for I don’t know what I am doing.

I don’t see the full picture.

And am just, like others,

By my standards,

Evading the worst,

Fearing the worst.

Father, forgive us, 

for you know what we are doing.

You alone see the full picture.

You are just, unlike others’

Or my standards.

But unlike me or others,

You are merciful

Taking the worst,

Returning the best.

Selah