It started slowly enough, at first, only a few metallic thuds broke into the stillness of the sanctuary, echoing eerily all around us, sounding vaguely like gunshots. This quickly grew into a barrage of loud crashing sounds, gathering momentum and increasing in intensity, like hail hitting a tin roof. Except this din didn’t come from above. Rather the echoes of rocks hitting metal reverberated, the resounding ripples of jarring sound surrounding us on all sides as we exited the sanctuary.

By the sound of it, we could have been fleeing a war zone and perhaps in a sense we were leaving behind a battlefield. Normally when we leave the sanctuary, it is worship music that surrounds us – providing an inspiring and uplifting sendoff for the week ahead. But not today. Today we left in somber silence, while all around us the clamor of rocks being dropped into empty metal trashcans exploded, their echoes lingering like thunder’s ominous rumbles after a storm.

Could this be what forgiveness sounds like? – like a war zone – like a battlefield. We were each given a rock as we entered the sanctuary at the beginning of the service. The dropping of our stones into the large, empty, metal trashcans at the end of the service was symbolic. This was a tangible way for each of us, if we so chose, to symbolically drop our stone of unforgiveness into the can, signifying our choice to forgive, to let go of any offense done against us and subsequently to let go of any accompanying bitterness or anger we are currently holding tightly in our grasp, due to our refusal to forgive someone else.

If only forgiveness was as simple as dropping a single stone into an empty trashcan and walking away – as simple as letting go. If truth be told, though, I carry with me more than just one stone. I carry multiple stones. Perhaps you do too? Nowadays we collect and hoard offenses like it’s a competition or a sport. The resulting stones of unforgiveness that we carry with us, have a way of accumulating over time, eventually becoming an unbearable burden.

When I am unwilling to let any of my stones go, the load of stones I carry continues to increase until the weight of my stones soon surpasses my own weight. When this happens, I end up buried alive beneath my own stones, all the stones I have so carefully hoarded over the years. I find myself barely able to breathe, unable to move forward, trapped inside the rubble a lifetime of stone collecting brings.

This certainly gives new meaning to the phrase “stoned to death.” And in an ironic plot twist, I am the one carrying out the stoning of myself! Reminds me of the time the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, saying the law required that she be stoned to death for her crime. Jesus’s reply?

“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)

Their response? “At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.” (John 8:9)

Those present, no doubt released their stones as they walked away, stones intended for the woman, dropping them to the ground as they left in silence. Apparently, the woman’s actions had offended them, but when forced to face their own sinfulness, they forgave her offense and let go of their stones. In this case, the sound of forgiveness was the dull thud of rocks hitting the dirt and of feet shuffling in the dust as they walked quietly past her. That day, she heard forgiveness, not as loud as rocks falling into metal trashcans, but no less dramatic.

Forgiveness demands that I put down my stones, that I release them, that I give them up instead of carrying them around with me twenty-four/seven, always at the ready for me to throw at those who have offended me, hurt me, wronged me and even persecuted me. Jesus showed all of us “how it’s done” as He hung on the cross. Those present at His crucifixion were hurling the stones of insulting words at Him –

“The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. . . . The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. . . . One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him:” (Luke 23:35-39)

Jesus’s response?

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ ” (Luke 23:34)

the sound of forgiveness – pleading in prayer to God for those who have offended, hurt and wronged us, just as Jesus prayed for the people who were literally in the act of murdering Him even as He prayed for them –

forgiveness – impossible, impossible for me on my own – BUT – “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

So, I have to ask myself, do I really want to go through life carrying so many stones of unforgiveness around with me all day every day? Unforgiveness inevitably becomes a burden which weighs me down, a burden which holds me hostage, and robs me of the riches of the relationships that I lose if I choose unforgiveness over mercy. Forgiveness, on the other hand, lifts the load off my heart, sets me free and restores the relationships unforgiveness has stolen from me.

I know I desperately desire forgiveness from my Heavenly Father and from others when I have offended or wronged them. Why would I withhold from others the very thing that I myself most wish to receive – forgiveness? I can’t in good conscience. In fact, when Jesus was instructing His disciples in how they should pray, He included these words –

“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6:12)

forgiveness – highly sought after but often in short supply – except with our Creator, God – He has an infinite supply of forgiveness at the ready –

“If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4)

the sound of forgiveness – a father’s footsteps running toward his son in order to welcome him home after his rebellion and disobedience

the sound of forgiveness – sometimes harder to hear than at other times – tears falling, hearts softening, hands clasping, relationships reuniting, walls coming down, (like Jericho, but much tougher walls) sighs of relief, shouts of joy, heavy loads lifting, the beating of a thousand wings as hearts set free take flight, no longer earthbound by anger, bitterness or unforgiveness –

the sound of forgiveness – the Holy Spirit’s whisper of truth – “It is finished.” “You have been forgiven!” I have been forgiven!

Jesus also said this –

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

When I realize the enormity of how much I have been forgiven by my Heavenly Father, I dare not withhold forgiveness from anyone. Why hold onto my stones? Who am I to do such a thing? The forgiveness I daily receive from my Heavenly Father, I daily extend to others. I no longer need to carry all those stones – I travel lighter through this world. In forgiving others their offense against me, I am the one set free!

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

sincerely, Grace Day