Forgiveness

Over the past few months I have been slowly but surely reading/studying C.S. Lewis's "Mere Christianity".  This week I was surprised to read that he believes forgiveness, even more so than chastity, to be "the most unpopular of Christian virtues".  After reading his explanation and contemplating the subject in my own mind, I have to agree.  Forgiveness is without a doubt more often preached than practiced, either by Christians or non-Christians, in modern-day society.

Honestly, forgiveness is hard, it feels like work.  It feels like giving in.  From my Christian point of view I sometimes find myself thinking: if God has forgiven us all in Christ, why must we forgive one another (a modern take on the Lord's prayer)?  It seems that these days forgiveness is frowned upon and a sign of weakness.  Could you imagine what Nancy Grace would have said about someone who forgave Casey Anthony?  What if an Environmentalist forgave BP?  What if Eric Proctor forgave Mike Vick?

I am not the biggest fan of Mike Vick, in fact, I am not a fan at all.  Although I find him to be a phenomenal, once-in-a-lifetime athletic specimen, I also find him to be a deplorable human being.  In my opinion he should have went to prison for longer than he did.  I find it difficult to believe how so many fans cheer for him, knowing what he did off of the field.

Last NFL season I spent hours arguing with my friends (and the television) about whether or not it was ok to cheer for Mike Vick and celebrate his accomplishments.  Some thought he was an American redemption story, some were happy because he was on their fantasy team and some were able to separate his on the field doings from his prior off the field doings.  I wouldn't hear any of it.  He killed dogs!  Remember that?!?  Just thinking back to last year and remembering all the praise he received makes me cringe.  It feels so good being on my non-forgiving high horse!  Why must I come down?

Some of those some friends I was arguing asked me why I wouldn't forgive Mike Vick, seeing as that is the Christian thing to do.  Naturally, instead of actually considering what they asked, I took it as a personal attack and either avoided the question or stated that his actions were unforgivable and continued arguing.  I didn't see his attempts to change as genuine or "enough", therefore he wasn't worthy of forgiveness.  Too bad that's not how forgiveness works.  Even now that I do see his positive works in the community and his attempts to help prevent dog fighting, I can't use those as justification for forgiving him.  Forgiveness isn't merit based, I just need to forgive him and I will.  Michael Vick, I forgive you.

I wish I could say that was easy and a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, but that's not the case.  I can say that I know forgiveness is what God wants from us and that the act of forgiving makes me feel closer to him.  And before you ask: no, you will not see me in a Vick jersey this year or any year, its still all about Mr. Thomas Brady and the Patriot way.  Now, seeing that this is Proctor's Type and there needs to be some ridiculous crap thrown in...

While I am in forgiveness mode, I am going to go ahead and cross another off the list...

I fucking hate ketchup.  I hate its looks, its smell, its texture, the sound it makes being squeezed out of a bottle, and of course its gross taste.  With all of my five senses, I loathe ketchup.  Did you know that putrid smell coming from a park's trash can in the middle of summer is mainly caused by old ketchup?  Ketchup has stained my clothes.  Ketchup has ruined fries I was supposed to be sharing with someone.  I think I may have even slipped on a ketchup pack once.  I am not even going to think anymore about it.  I am just going to do it:

Ketchup, you are forgiven.

Wooh...Mike Vick and Ketchup both forgiven in one blog entry.  I think that is all I can manage tonight.  Green beans, Nic Cage and Southern Indiana will have to be dealt with at a later date.