Good Grief

For although I grieved you with my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it (for I see that that letter caused you grief, though only briefly), now I rejoice, not because you were grieved but because your grief led to repentance, for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. ~ 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

Have you ever been truly grieved for something you've done? Has something you've done ever driven you to your knees in despair?

We talk a lot in the church about forgiveness. And repentance. But I'm not sure either of those concepts are really very popular. Who likes to be told they actually NEED forgiveness? Who wants to be told that they have something to repent?

I sometimes think our confession of sins at the beginning of our Lutheran worship is really pretty safe. I mean, it's nice to get a blanket forgiveness in the same room as the rest of our community.

But what if each Sunday we had to name out loud - for everyone to hear - just what it was we needed forgiveness for?

What if we all had to stand up in church and have everyone tell us just what we needed to repent?

Would it drive us to our knees in despair?

Now, I'm not saying that we'll be doing this anytime soon.

But maybe, as those words of forgiveness wash over you, you might allow yourself to feel that sting of grief - if only for a moment - because you know how much that forgiveness is needed.

And then let that grief turn to repentance.

And then to new life.

Let that grief make you whole again, so you can fully rejoice in the grace you have received.

Lord, I have the ability to whisk away my sins to the back of the closet. Help me to pull them out into the light of day so that I can truly bask in your forgiveness and the new life you offer me. Amen