Same job, different uniform.

Monday, May 19, 2008

It sucks being unforgiven.

If you have ever been slighted, victimized, or otherwise wounded and you have felt justified in not forgiving the perpetrator, watch the movie "Atonement."

Those of us who have been hurt in life by another human being usually feel it is our right to carry it around, wear it on our sleeve, complain about, pull it out and show it off. Often we don't feel obligated to forgive the sin, however.

But it really does suck to be unforgiven. It can ruin the life of the unforgiven as surely as their victim may feel it ruined theirs. And the unforgiven don't usually have anyone to turn to for sympathy like the victim does. No one dries their tears at night. No one holds them up when they slump under the weight of their crime.

I would say that victims probably assume that a victimizer is unrepentant and thus doesn't deserve to be forgiven. But I know people who have tried to apologize and recieved no absolution. Their victim knows they are sorry, woefully and painfully aware of their faults and their crime and the penance they will do. But their pleas are like water poured into the wind.


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4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...




Haven't seen the movie, but I can say that forgiveness from the victim won't mean much until the perpetrator has forgiven him/herself. And ultimately, if the perpetrator knows he/she has been forgiven through salvation in Christ, the victim's forgiveness is secondary.

Monday, May 19, 2008

 
Blogger "Molly McGee" said...




I just watched this movie last night! And I can't get it out of my head. You're right, not being forgiven sucks. I'm feeling a bit convicted.

SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!

Do you know what I thought was one of the most tragic effects of that little girl's lie? The fact the Lola was never able to break away from the man who raped her.

One of the saddest, most amazing movies I've seen in a long time.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

 
Blogger JEB said...




The victim's forgiveness is secondary. Christ's forgiveness is the most important, you are right. But we are humans who live here on earth with other humans and if a fellow human, someone we love, like, spent a significant portion of our live and or time with won't forgive you, it still hurts even if God forgives you.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

 
Blogger Unknown said...




"forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..."

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

 

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