Seeing the Face of Christ in Ourselves--Monday, February 27, 2012

Psalm 32:1-7

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
²Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
³While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
⁴For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as

by the heat of summer.

⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah ⁶Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
⁷You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.

After receiving my "blog" assignment from Pastor Katie, my one remaining neuron went into a panic. I read the suggested scripture, Psalm 32:1-7 from my old grandma's German bible. I didn't get much from it. Probably because I don't read German. Anyway, I focused on Seeing The Face of Christ In Ourselves and with than in mind I went to bed thinking, "When I wake up in the morning I'm going to look in the mirror for the Face of Christ."

Well, the next morning came and into the bathroom I went to look. It was terrible. Not only was the Face of Christ not there, but there was an old guy staring back. He had bird's nest hair, an unshaven chin, and eyes that had a surly, "I'm not awake" look. How in the world was I going to find the Face of Christ in that?!

It took just a moment for me to remember a verse in the Psalm's selection, "I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and you forgave the guilt of my sin."

I looked back in the mirror at the old guy. Well, it can't be anything less than a sin for someone to look like that, I thought; and so with that I asked The Face of Christ that lives in my spirit to forgive him. The old guy. For not always remembering to put Christ first. And then the Face reminded me that it was important to forgive myself, which (reluctantly) I did; and then to take that forgiveness and to pass it around for the rest of the day, and maybe that week, and that month, and for as many days as I could. Pass around the forgiveness. It seemed such a simple thing to do for all He has already done for me.

I look in the mirror now as I embark on today's adventure and the Face reminds me to forgive. Toss in a little joy to sweeten it. Blow a kiss to the heaven's in thanks. I'm off again, today's crusade awaits!

David List

For reflection:

How is forgiveness, an experience of freedom?

Is there someone in your life toward whom your heart is hardened, or who you have not forgiven?  What needs to change within your spirit, in order for you to let go of your anger?

Where do you hear the gospel promises proclaimed in the psalm?