Periodically a friend and I meet at Starbucks and enjoy a cup of coffee together. Our conversations are seasoned with updates on our families, our latest developing aches and pains, and our current projects. It is unusual for us to venture into vulnerable territory, but last week she said something that took us below the surface.
In the middle of our discussion about Re-Ignite and the impact of doing life review as a part of the process, she said to me, “You know, it wasn’t until age 60 that I confronted some of the deep hurts from my past. Once I did the hard work of discernment and forgiveness, I felt free to follow my passions and dreams.”
Sometimes in reviewing one’s life, those incidents that paralyze us from going forward are unveiled. We have the choice to confront or bury them. Forgiveness frees us. First we need to lavish in the wonderful grace, mercy and love found in the unconditional forgiveness of God. And then, as my friend testified, we can be free to follow passions and dreams. She certainly has. No longer bound by anger, resentment and regret, my friend directs a growing ministry to women. She’s free. Her soul is re-ignited. Her life is powered by the Holy Spirit. She is whole.
And it happened in the second half of her life!
Forgive other people just as God forgave you because of Christ’s death on the cross.
Ephesians 4:32 New Life Version (NLV)
