What would it feel like to wake up every morning not worrying about past hurts or past events we couldn't possibly change?  What would it be like to stop condemning ourselves every day for the sins that keep replaying in our minds, even though we have confessed our sins to God and we have been forgiven?  Wouldn't it be nice to begin each day with hope, renewed trust in God's love, and the faith to know God is doing something new for us every day?  So, why do we hold on to past hurts, failures, misspoken words, and the little things that prevent us from taking steps forward towards our own resurrection into life with Christ? 

While we condemn ourselves, or expect others to judge and condemn us, we sometimes forget to ask Jesus what he thinks about what we have said, done, or didn’t do when we weren’t our better selves.  If we, in a moment of human failing, after we have hurt or disappointed another, stood before Jesus Christ and said, "Lord, I have sinned, and I am afraid everyone would judge me, unfriend me on social media accounts, ignore me, or even push me away.  I am afraid no one would like me anymore.  I am afraid I will be alone.”  Jesus might say, “No human being is completely innocent; everyone has sinned, and still I love you and stand with you.  May that love be a healing balm for your brokenness; may that love be a stop sign for the next time sin knocks at your door.” 

It is easy for anyone to say, “Forget the past, just look ahead,” or “don’t worry, time heals all wounds.”  We have all heard these words of encouragement from friends, family, mentors, and colleagues.  However, it is difficult to forget.  It is difficult to not stir up anxieties about past failings or hurts.  It is difficult to strain forward while the wind of regret and fear is right in our faces forcing us to frequently take steps backwards or stand still in terror.  It is difficult to move towards the upward calling of loving ourselves and others. 

When Jesus responded to the scribes and the Pharisees who brought him the woman who had been caught in adultery, he never proclaimed the woman’s innocence, nor did he pass judgment.  Jesus called their attention to her humanity and theirs.  Jesus chose mercy over judgment.  Jesus bent down and away from the height of judgment, standardized punishment, chastisement, and condemnation.  Jesus leaned into her humanity, her imperfection, and the impermanence of the path she had taken as he wrote on an impermanent ground that holds no one's secrets for long.  We could maybe lean into the humanity of those who have hurt us or disappointed us.  We could maybe lean into our own humanity and realize we are forgivable and loveable.  We could maybe trust in the Lord God, who doesn't condemn us, who puts water in the desert of our soul, who does great things for us and lifts us up.

Lord, please lift us up from sin and help us lean forward into a new life with you.  Amen