A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a friend's decision to walk away from our little, cloistered faith community and pursue a possibly destructive relationship. There's been an update to the story. A few nights ago, she came back.
Unfortunately for her, when she left, she did a lot of things that were hurtful to the very people who had been so supportive over the last year. But, instead of being scorned or chastised, she received the same love that she had been accustomed to before she left.
I have no idea what went on in her head while she was gone or on the night she returned. I'm sure she had already thought about what she might need to say or do to make things right with everyone - much like the prodigal son in Jesus' New Testament parable. I guess the best part is that she didn't have to or wasn't expected to. That's not to say it was easy to receive her back again. I'm sure it wasn't. Still it was the right thing to do.
As difficult as it is to forgive, it is what Christians are called to do - right out of the box. It's the willingness to forgive that sets Christian Community apart in this world. It's what people crave - to be forgiven when they mess things up. It's the kind of thing that might bring a prodigal back home - to stay.
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