A little forgiveness

So here I am at home! It is good. And with that have come many lessons I've learned and have chosen to put down here for all to read. I'm not saying I'm right or that this is the way or trying to break spiritual ground. I'm simply putting down my thoughts, and what God has been speaking to me. So take it or leave it, but don't hate there's enough of that already.

Being on the road for so long and seeing so much I think it was really cool to see the Church at a larger scale. To realize that I am a part of something so much larger then just this little spot of land we call Ann Arbor. Recently God has been showing me the "Kingdom" and how limited my vision of it has been. I thought the Kingdom was this spiritual, unbelievable event when everything turns white and my life has suddenly become perfect. What I have had to go through on the road opened my eyes to the Kingdom of God in a very different way then what I previously thought it was. The Kingdom is there when we choose to forgive from our hearts those who have done us wrong, and instead of waiting to be asked for forgiveness asking for it. Nothing I have encountered that is much harder, and yet such a representation of the Kingdom.

I kinda want to talk a bit about forgiveness. I think this world shows us ways to become kings and helps us push everyone out of our lives that we don't like. We tend to forget such a beautiful simple thing. First of all, Community life is impossible without openness and honesty, I learned that the hard way, I finally broke down and realized that I can not do it on my own without the involvement of other people in my life. I learned that I had to talk to those who have wronged me and for those who I have wronged to ask for forgiveness. And how many times? Seven times seventy if I have to. Because I have come to realize that the power of community isn't shown in achievement or how many people are prophesying or seeing visions or any of that. The power of community is that each individual is supported and loved. And we get there by being open and vulnerable with each other in order to let other people in. Not just for spiritual advancement, but for the Love of God and for each other.

I forgot that Jesus calls me to love as He did, and that He withheld nothing from His followers. He was totally naked to all, even on the cross. He showed us the way to love each other, and I think a key to that is openness and forgiveness as He did.

So my thoughts are if there is bitterness, anger, resentment, then there are closed hearts and a individualistic mindset. Yet, if there is forgiveness, honesty, openness, brokenness, and nakedness before the Lord and others, the Kingdom is there. Heaven on earth.

Such beauty in such simplicity.

Love has come to show the way
Train de vie

Much love,

Ed