The Path to Moving Forward in Disaster

Photo by Felix Koutchinski on Unsplash

I’m guessing most of us feel at least moments of anger, resentment, and outrage for the the offenses we’re suffering and witnessing right now.

The pandemic.

The loss of social safety nets.

The deepening educational gaps between those able to negotiate online learning and those who aren’t.

The preventable natural disasters exacerbated by climate change.

The violence perpetrated against people of color, LGTBQIA, and anyone else deemed “lesser than.”

Most of us are experiencing bitter, overwhelming amounts of unfairness now. 

And so we—all of us—are being called to exercise a part of our Christian belief to a breadth and depth few of us have experienced before. 

We are being called to shower forgiveness in all directions. 

While I do not presume to know what forgiveness means or requires from each person for the offenses received, I do know what Scripture says: it’s necessary.

Forgiveness is necessary not only because we have to, not only because Jesus forgave us, but because our nation and world will require rebuilding when this pandemic and election are over.

And we won’t be able to move forward constructively if we believe some are unworthy of forgiveness.

There’s a reason forgiveness is the bedrock, nonnegotiable, core belief of our faith. 

Not to condone, excuse, or say the offenses don’t matter. But to “Forgive us our trespasses, our debts, our sins as we have been forgiven our trespasses, debts, and sins”—the most famous, oft-intoned prayer of our canon.

We receive as we give. We receive in order to give. And we give in order to receive.

Matthew 6:14-15 reads: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

There’s no getting around it.

Maybe God knew the kingdom of God would require a constant exchange of grace and mercy. That we would only let ourselves off the hook when we experienced letting others off the hook. That we would feel free to love when we were free from damning.

Perhaps forgiveness works as it does so we discover the freedom to love our imperfect neighbor as our imperfect selves.

Whatever the case, this isn’t an easy path, and I readily admit it’s not one I wish to walk. 

Especially because there’s no end in sight. The offenses of the moment are far from over. Trespasses, debts and sins continue to accumulate. They’re piling up higher and spreading farther than the accumulation of plastic in the oceans. 

And yet, we must take the first step: naming what and whom needs to be forgiven. 

Forgive Life/Circumstance

Sometimes we need to forgive Life.

We have to forgive Life that we’re suffering through one of the bleaker eras instead of one of the more golden ones.

We haven’t had a pandemic like this one since the Spanish ‘flu. I suspect most of us would prefer not to share this misery with our forebears of a century ago.

Climate change wasn’t a “thing” a century ago, but it’s in progress all around us now.

However you want to name it—that the stars aren’t aligning, our karma is bad, or our pregnant mothers walked under an open ladder—we need to forgive the circumstances of our lives that haven’t met our dreams and expectations.

If we don’t, the resentment, bitterness, and anger at the unfairness of it will compound our misery and that of those around us—and keep us sulking like Jonah under that wormed shade tree—rather than look for solutions.

Forgive Others

Who are the people we need to forgive? 

Who is responsible for the situations we’re in?

Who exacerbates them through acts of commission and omission? 

Who espouses one set of beliefs but acts out another? 

Who abuses or abdicates their power?

Who, feeling scared or backed into a corner, has come out swinging on social media, or at church council meetings, or with fists, fire, or weapons? 

Who believes they are the center of the universe and should be able to do whatever they wish, wherever they wish without thought or concern toward the effects on others? 

Who could have prevented harm had they spoken up, or listened when others did speak up, or acted after they listened?

Who was just too worn out to get involved?

Ourselves

If you discover yourself in any of the descriptions above, then forgiving yourself is part of the task, too.

We do not escape forgiveness’s need. We, too, contribute to our current woes. 

None of us have done all we could to prevent our current catastrophes, create justice, or serve our neighbors as ourselves. 

We need to forgive ourselves, and when we do, by God’s grace, we cannot forget that forgiveness is followed by amendment of life.

What will we change?

How will we change?

How can we create a different future that is genuinely loving and respectful of all others?

God

Does it sound blasphemous to say that we need to forgive God?

If so, here’s why I’d argue it’s necessary: because that’s the only way to stay in relationship.

Besides, if Moses, Job, Elijah, multiple psalmists, and Jonah can all have “their moments” with God, I’m pretty sure it’s okay for the rest of us too.

If we become so angry or frustrated or are so hurt by God that we don’t talk to God anymore, then we’re really in trouble. 

Here are some of the things I need to forgive God for:

A system of evolution that allows a scrap of protein like COVID-19 to evolve into a weapon that has killed more people than multiple wars combined.

A human fight or flight response that doesn’t have an off switch. We’d be in much better shape if we could choose to switch off the adrenaline and preserve our executive functioning so we could solve problems, cooperate, and not see everyone who disagrees with us as a threat.

That God has seemed to see fit for some to heal from this virus and others not.

That slavery was the norm for centuries and God didn’t put a stop to it. I mean, how come the Hebrews got to be freed en masse, but not all slaves for all time? Slavery continued throughout biblical history which was used by Christians as justification to enslave “the children of Ham” on American soil. As my mother used to say, I’d like to have “a little chin-chin” with God about this one.

Preach It

Naming the offenses and the offenders is the first step toward making serious faithful and theological headway:

Do we believe God forgives us?

Do we believe we have to forgive others?

Do we believe we have to forgive others even “this” (whatever “this” is)?

We cannot forgive offenses we don’t admit, recognize, or articulate, and as we approach election day, those perceived offenses are likely going to get worse. 

So the question for all of us is this: will we be able to forgive ourselves and our neighbors for the worst sin of all?

Being human, still running the race to find our perfection in Christ.