Revelations From A Road Trip

"Did you leave yet?" I asked, frantic. "Please don't go! We've been robbed!"

The minute we saw that our window had been smashed and our car broken into, I called our son, who was in another vehicle with his sister (our daughter), his wife, and mother and father in-law, leaving from the same parking lot as us. It was our first night in San Francisco helping our daughter-in-law and son move into their new apartment. They'd shopped at IKEA, then we'd enjoyed dinner together at a fantastic indoor market.

One moment, laughing and joking—the next, shock and disbelief.

The thief didn't take the purchased furniture or anything else that was in our rented SUV, with the exception, unfortunately, of my husband's backpack containing a computer, ipad, and a fair amount of cash. The police officer filling out the report was kind but visibly bored by the incident and expressed, "It happens all the time."

It was unpleasant for us getting our property stolen, but no doubt it was unpleasant for the person doing the stealing.

Maybe not in that particular moment, but, certainly, at some point in their life. Babies are born with a yearning to be nurtured and cared for, not with the intention of someday doing criminal acts. What has happened to this individual up until this point, and what do they endure on a daily basis?

We were upset and shook up by what occurred, but, after a bit, we huddled and prayed for the situation and the person who took our stuff.

I know we'll be okay, but will they?

If we, as a human family, would seek to contemplate, understand, and assist as often as we choose to judge, denounce, and hate; imagine the amount of love and grace that could multiply throughout the world.

We can criticize, scorn, misunderstand, and resent others, especially those who have wronged us, but how can we perceive if we haven't experienced their dark valleys?

How can we "get it" if we haven't seen or thought about the potholes or decaying streets they may have been navigating for years with no recalculation of a better route?

It's a challenge to see through other's eyes, but maybe we could try.

Who am I to judge anyone?

We are all children of God—deeply loved and treasured. He loves us fairly and impartially. He loves you and I just as much as he loves the person who made off with our things.

He sees us and our faults, flaws, and sins and yet loves us equally.

He knows the roads we've traveled, the baggage we're carrying, and our multifaceted stories, ever unfolding.

Our drive from Illinois to California, previous to the shattered glass at our feet, was beautiful and unforgettable. Many nights, we drove straight into the setting sun, and the colors took our breath away. Our destination was this hilly, historic city, where we were able to visit our son and daughter-in-law's new residence.

The parking lot event could have darkened the rest of our time together and our memories of the whole trip, but I wouldn't allow it.

I determined long ago that joy would be my default setting.

I've found that the only way to free up joy that often gets tied down and buried because of outside (and inside) circumstances is to make the art of forgiving a deeply serious and thought-out intention.

It goes hand in hand: You can't have joy without forgiveness.

God models and extends grace—undeserved forgiveness—for those of us that ask. We must ask Him to forgive us for our sins.

And He does and will forgive us, so we must forgive others, including ourselves.

We must forgive ourselves for not being perfect. We must forgive ourselves for not loving others the way God calls us to. We must forgive ourselves for looking down our noses at others—finding a reason why we think we're superior.

Sometimes we're obedient to God by volunteering or ministering to those less fortunate, all the while thinking that those we're helping are lucky to be receiving our time or resources. But maybe God shakes His head and chuckles because He sees our disdainful attitudes and knows we are the ones in dire need.

God sees our dirty, smug, self-loving hearts, and, yet, He still forgives and He still loves.

Who am I to judge or to size up another of God's dearly beloved children and deem them not worthy or unforgivable?

Day by precious day we're all heading west, toward our own final, radiant sunsets. We'll miss the brilliance and majesty if we spend our hours pronouncing, condemning, despising.

Forgiveness is never easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

If we ask, God will forgive us, and, also, give us the desire, illumination, and momentum to start right where we are—forgiving ourselves and forgiving others as He forgave us—so we can strive to honor and glorify Him better and better and go about our lives with our heart gauges continually redirecting us back to joy.

| Photo credit above - Marina Prather |

Luke 6 : 35-37 "Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they may not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven."

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