Release Others by Kelley Barton

What a week it has been. There has been a lot of news that has made me sad, angry and, at times, feeling helpless. It’s hard to think of anything encouraging to write about today. But it is my turn to post a Reflection.

I decided to look at the scripture we focused on last Sunday with the translation I often include in my Reflections – the First Nations Version. Here is the verse that stood out to me

“Release us from the things we have done wrong, in the same way we release others for the things done wrong to us.”
(Matthew) Gift from Creator Tells the Good Story 6:12 FNVNT 

What a great way to describe what I know I need to do. Release others. Others I don’t know and will never know. Others that think they are doing right, but which seems so incredibly harmful to me.

As I write, God nudges my heart to remind me that there are also Others that I do know. Others in my family and within my circle of friends that have hurt me. Sometimes caused me to feel “less than”. Even though some of those relationships went through a healing process, the hurt often lies deep inside.

I don’t know exactly how to release Others for the things done wrong, not just to me but also to those I don’t even know personally. Yet their stories of pain are something I can’t ignore.

All I can do is let the concept of releasing others ruminate inside me. I will ask Jesus to impress in my thoughts a way to do so. For the Spirit to nudge me a tiny bit down that path and see where I end up.