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Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of m�agine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
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George Elerick, a writer and speaker living in the United Kingdom, recently wrote a lovely piece around reconciliation. I don't know much--well, truth be told, anything--about George; Neither do I recall how I stumbled across his words; however, his insight on a curious question Peter once asked of Jesus bears sharing...
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I
forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus
answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22).
Peter's curiosity led him to question how to quantify forgiveness. How to numerically justify reconciliation. At that point, the person he
was concerned about stopped being important; Peter was really concerned
about his reputation. His internal monologue might have sounded something like
this: "Well, if I don't forgive him enough, then people will think I am
just a cynical, angry, person. But, if I forgive him too much, then well,
people might think I am a door mat." Peter cared about what others
thought. At that point, forgiveness became a tool for
self-glorification. And it also became a way to justify a minimalist
approach to repairing broken relationships. But, really, what Peter
was asking is, "How far is too far?"
And Jesus astonishes Peter with his response.
The number seven in Hebrew numerology is a number for perfection. And the
number seventy is among a collection of numbers that symbolizes completeness
or wholeness. Jesus basically says, "It doesn't matter. Just forgive."
Jesus trumped Peter's notion of quantifying forgiveness and turning the
person into a product of consumerism. The moment we quantify anything is
the moment we agree that we can only be consumers who are trying to get
something out of it for ourselves.
Which is also the same moment that
is stops being reconciliation.
The moment we take something as intimate
as friendship and turn it into a number is the moment we care more about
ourselves and reputation than we do the other person. By Jesus
answering the way he did, he was basically saying that reconciliation is
the point. Not how many times you reconcile or what it makes you look
like. That our responsibility is to be a people who walk in daily
awareness of our reconciliation, and that we too should share what we
have freely received. I know it's a bit archaic, but it's true. I think Jesus offered Peter a new question; rather than asking, "How far is too
far?," why not ask, "How am I embodying the power of reconciliation?"
So, George, I hope you'll forgive me--or better, reconcile with me--for reproducing your insights.
What comes up for you when you read Mr. Elerick's thoughts?
That "so and so" whom you've had difficulty forgiving. You know the one. How many times has it been now?
What would it look like if you shifted your perspective, "How am I embodying the power of reconciliation?
What's possible?
(George Elerick; adapted from the website, The Love Revolution)
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Michael Fox
m�agine!
530/613.2774
P.O. Box 9144
Auburn, CA, USA 95604
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In addition to personal and professional coaching,
m�agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching,
employing its proprietary models: Values, Vision, Voice and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength.
Michael's books include Complete in Christ,
Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook, and Biblio�files.
Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details.
Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching.
On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities
to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees.
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