Call Someone You've Had a Falling Out With and Make Amends

Don’t you love Simon Peter? He is the disciple who seems to have never had an unspoken thought. I think that while that may have embarrassed the other disciples on occasion, they were most often grateful for his propensity for asking questions, especially questions they might have had themselves, but were reluctant to articulate out-loud.

Such was the occasion when Simon Peter came to Jesus with the question, "How many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" If we hadn’t heard the story before, we would certainly be impressed with Simon Peter’s willingness to forgive. I mean, seven times is a lot of forgiveness. Why, growing up I lived under the old adage, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." That is, forgiveness had pretty narrow parameters. Consequently, Simon Peter’s inclination to forgive as much as seven times is pretty impressive. I don’t know about you, but forgiving someone who has injured me more than once takes a great deal of spiritual discipline. But seven times? Just as I am trying to get my mind and spirit around that, Jesus interrupts with, "I tell you, not seven times but seventy times seven!"

What kind of Savior is this who keeps pushing me to do things which are so difficult for me? What kind of Kingdom is He trying to establish? It would seem that Jesus keeps advocating the idea that the Kingdom of God seeks to bring out the best in each one of us. Why is that so hard for us to understand? Why is it that we invest so much time, energy and emotions grinding on and on over a difference of opinion? I mean, how many creative moments do we waste stewing over things said or unsaid, rehashing old arguments, even having imaginary conversations, and rehearsing mean, pithy comments to use at the first opportunity? Why can't we get it in our heads that Jesus wants the best for us, and we’re not at our best when we are harboring resentments and enmity?

Strangely enough, the people I most often have had to apologize to or make peace with are the people whom I have grown to love even more through our efforts at reconciliation. Jesus appears to know an important truth -- the bonding that comes from healing a broken relationship ironically makes that relationship stronger.

Just writing these words brings to mind someone I need to call. What about you?