We Stand Before God
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What Choice do I have?
We may find ourselves in a dilemma because of a simple disagreement with our closest friend or acquaintance. How easy it was to find a reason to hate their attitude and they never said “I’m Sorry.”
Someone once told me to take a look at myself and have a personal discussion with my own choice of not asking for their forgiveness. Are you kidding me? You don’t understand what they said about my good nature and avoided my presence since I am always right!
Take a moment and have a birds-eye view of how often and the many instances that these very words are thought out, spoken under our breath, or are being condemned for not respecting my opinion?
The probabilities that these occurrences are numerous; with ourselves or because of a stubborn attitude that is pride itself has my own heart beating an uncontrollable warning that we are not alone with the thought; “I am right!”
We are not right when the sight of Christ hanging on the cross does nothing for me until my adversary tells me they are sorry. Of the many sins we may commit, the ones that hold us at bay is when we fail to forgive anyone who is our enemy in our own mind.
Back to the Cross that Jesus came to accept because he felt we did not know what we were doing to each other. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Lk 23: 34).
Listening to so many who might say, “I had no choice.” Oh how insolent that is when we forget that God’s gift of Free Will is exactly the choice we have; This is the first question the Lord will ask; “How did you show love to your neighbor?" Are we going to stumble with an answer while our heart is beating in a rhythm that is condemning our own selfishness that now is not a choice? It may very well be too late while that person is feeling lonely since their closest friend might be at the mercy of God.
Perhaps this period of Lent will become the very essence that opens our sense of forgiveness to anyone who deserves our bended knee in respect because they, like me, are children of God who loves all of us in spite of our selfish attitude of pride.
This effort will make our Lenten journey one with grace beyond our wildest dreams
Ralph B. Hathaway
I am an ordained deacon with the Diocese of Pittsburgh, since June 8, 1974. My current ministry is concentrated on writing spiritual reflections and poetry. I am married, with one grown daughter, and 4 grandchildren. I retired from the electrical industry after 58 years as an electrician, contractor, teacher in trade schools, and electrical inspector with a PA State license
