FORGIVENESS

It was a Friday morning. In the church office there was a busy preacher feverously trying to finish Sunday's sermon. The secretary knew it. She rapped three times on the door and pushed unannounced a middle aged lady in the office with these words ..."She needs help".

I was stunned! Sarah knew better than this. She had never done such before. I offered a seat. She sat down! Before I could ask her name she took over the conversation.

I've been seeing the psychologist across the street. For weeks I have been going without any results. I can't sleep. I'm not hungry. My life is falling apart. He says I need forgiveness and that was your business not his. So I'm here to get forgiven. For what do you need forgiveness? She told her story. Born in the Northwest. Baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Raised in an Upper Middle Class home. Mid-teen pregnancy, left home. For twenty five years she was trying to find herself. She was now in her third marriage. It was failing. Her sin was Fornication as a teenager. She had never forgiven herself.

I did the Billy Graham thing. We prayed a prayer of Confession together. She repeated the appropriate words.  I pronounced her forgiven, and rose to usher her out.

I rose and started leading her toward the door. I'm not forgiven she said. I'm not leaving!

Her story and my theological training began to mesh.

I too, came from a Lutheran background. I remembered that there were members and there were communing members. Communion was most important.

I asked ..."WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU COMMUNED?

It was on my Confirmation Sunday.

Would you like to celebrate the Sacrament? Could We?

I went to the door and asked for grape soda and crackers. I got out the book of Worship. Placed my White Stole around my neck, Prayed the prayers of the church. And placed the bread and the wine into shaking hands. Her body began to tremble. Her eyes became cloudy. Out came a muddled scream like someone had hit her on the back to hard.  Then she began to sob uncontrollably.  She jumped up and ran out of the office sobbing uncontrollably.  I never even knew her name.

There are important moments in one's life. This moment was as important to my ministry as it was to the renewing of life she was experiencing. Wow! the power of God was there.

Nine months later on Christmas Eve we were celebrating the Sacrament ... a family at a time. Explanation (communicants would come a family at a time,  a prayer would be prayed for this family and then they would be served the sacrament).  A strange family came down the Isle. Two men, two ladies, and a three or four year old child. Both were handsome couples. The lady in her mid-forties reached over the altar rail and gave me a great big hug. You don't know me do you, she asked?   I'm sorry I said. Do you remember the lady back in the Spring who came for forgiveness and you served the Sacrament. I'm that lady!   I about lost it.  The experienced flashed before my eyes,  I became weak in my knees,  and oh, so tired.  I was stunned by what I saw before me ...  a radiant, healthy lady.

Do you believe accepting God's forgiveness healed that lady?

HAPPY IS THE PERSON WHO WILL RECEIVE AID FROM THE LORD!