I was reflecting a lot on a bit of the Lord's Prayer. the part where it says, "forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."

I was recently robbed and I remember feeling extremely violated when I found out. Not necessarily angry, but just irritated that it happened.

I also remember having to tell my parents what happened too. They came to pick me up at school during the weekend after having worked all day. My mom could see something was bothering me and asked what was going on. I remember having to tell them, "Do you remember the money you worked all week for? How the money that you made in the only small business transaction from that week was then given to me? Well, in one swift act of injustice, someone stole it from me." Essentially, telling them they worked all week for nothing.

Seeing the defeat on my parent's faces, the tears flowing, them realizing and knowing that they had worked so hard and it essentially amounted to nothing. It was one of the the hardest things I've ever had to do.

That's when I began to start being more irritated. Not only did the thief's actions hinder me from buying some textbooks, their actions affected my parents too.

I came back on campus after the weekend had passed, reported it to campus security and my dorm RA and RD, and was told that there was nothing that could realistically, practically, be done... in the grand scheme of things, it's just money.

That's when things just clicked and I became angry. Not just at the situation, but that someone would violate me like that. That someone would not give any thought to my situation and just seek to serve their own needs and desires by going into my wallet and taking all my money. The callousness of the school administration made me mad too. I was thinking, "why are they not doing anything and everything to find out who did it?"

But then I had a thought.

Am I so different? Maybe not in the sense that I'm going around murdering or robbing people. But when I'm looking at that one disruptive student who goes out of their way to prove to everyone that they're a BA... looking at them and judging them and their behavior. Or when I speak in a harsh tone to someone when I'm annoyed with them. I'm definitely robbing them of their dignity, no? That stung me.

Am I so different from the person who robbed me? Am I truly entitled to justice and swift actions taken by the school to find the perpetrator?

That stung me too. Not only did I realize that I was expecting the school to do what made me irritated in the first place; that I did not give any thought to their situation and just seek to serve my own needs and desires... But also, my struggle with entitlement was back. ugh.

I think it's interesting that when Jesus was teaching us how to pray, he taught and reminded us of this important thing... to call on Him to forgive our sins.

There's an old song that I used to sing in Sunday school and stuff back in the day. It's from the 80's. Talk about throwback. haha.

I am a new creation
No more in condemnation
Here in the grace of God I stand
My heart is overflowing
My love just keeps on growing
Here in the grace of God I stand

And I will praise You Lord
Yes, I will praise You Lord
And I will sing of all that You have done

A joy that knows no limit
A lightness in my spirit
Here in the grace of God I stand


Anyone remember this song? Yes, there are certainly truths in this song. But should it end there? With just knowing that we're standing by the grace of God?

Someone should write a second verse to this song.

I wonder why it's so easy for us to examine our own hearts (or maybe it's not... but you get the point) and see that we are in need for a savior... but so hard for us to see that we're not alone in needing Jesus? Where's our compassion to our brothers and sisters who are just as sinful as us. Why is it so easy to look at their actions and judge them or condemn... but why is it so easy for us to look at our actions and know that we need Jesus?

Knowing that you need Jesus is good. Don't get me wrong. But why do we hoard this truth? Why do we make the freedom Jesus offers just about our own morality? If we're so irritated at the world and it's brokenness... and all the injustices that the people of this fallen world pushes on you, why aren't we doing something about it?

Jesus also calls us to do the same. To forgive those who sin against us.

Let's be Christians. Little Christs.