Give me a break

 

Deuteronomy 15:1-11

It's unclear whether ancient Israelites observed any of the sabbatical year commandments. Resting every seven days is one thing. One thing many of us still struggle to do today. Deuteronomy 15 highlights another kind of rest. A rest Israel was to give each other. The seventh year remission of debts was a way to ensure no one would accumulate too much land, money and power. Especially at the ongoing expense of others. Every seven years, your debtors forgive your debts. And you forgive the debts you have against others. What kind of banker was God? Of course, none of my credit card companies have fulfilled that commandment. So, what can we take from this ancient tradition? Especially knowing there's a real chance no one's ever made it happen? I have an idea for today. Can we give each other a break? Give some of the contemptuous attitudes a rest?  As a nation, we've muddled through another (another!) contentious election. That didn't bring out the best in most of us. And that brought us to the start of the holiday season. As holly and jolly as that might sound, it's actually a depressing time for a lot of people. Pain and loss are a real part of the holy days. That's not to mention the busyness of the next couple of months. There are parties to attend and plan, gifts to buy and even volunteer work to do. Oh, there's church, too. Plus, for a lot of us, the end of the year tends to be a busy and stressful time at work. So, can we give each other a break? This could be a time to forgive someone for what they've said or done. After all, unforgiveness is a debt that favors no one. Be mindful of what you say to each other. Maybe you don't have to have a demeaning, sarcastic comeback every time. Maybe you could let one stupidly said thing go unheard. Or, even if you need to speak up, do so in a way that honors the image of God within each person. Give it a rest and see how God might heal us. Stay blessed...john