re post as my thoughts nce agin go there

A MEDITATION ON AS

A is such a little word---just two letters. Yet it is such a powerful word it is often the fulcrum of a thought, which changes some seemingly simple phrase in to powerful thought that allows us to ponder consequences and visualize the world around us.


Comparisons of two things often use the word as. For example we say, “Tom is as tall as….” And Tom’s height is immediately something we can visualize. It can be ironic comparisons such as “Ellen is as funny as a cell block at Folsom prison,” or it can add meaning to a sentence when used as in the phrase “ It will be done as he desires.” Just two little letters, one little word but such power.

Lately the word as in one particular statement has been dominating my thoughts. Are you ready for it? Here it is “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Wow ,does the word as ever pack a punch in that line.

As we forgive sure lays the action right on us. Forgive us as we forgive. Oops, does that mean we will be forgiven in the same manner as we forgive someone who has hurt us. That is a scary thought because forgiving is not something most of us find easy to do.

Sure we can let the “little things” go easily. Somebody slams us verbally and we can shrug it off but have we really forgiven it or just ignored it. We can forget and forgive those who see us do something stupid and laugh because we know they too will do something not quite smart someday. These little forgivings are painless and leave no scars.

Forgiving the big things that is the tough stuff of the phrase “ as we forgive” the betrayal by a friend or spouse lingers long after the actual act. They scar our souls and our hearts. Such big things seem to be unforgivable and revenge is so tempting. Yet if we want true forgiveness for our own mistakes big or small, forgiving those betrayals is almost a commandment because of the little two-letter word as.

Think about it. If that as means our forgiveness is to be given in the same manner we forgive others, most of us have to begin to practice real forgiveness and most of us will in truth have to really work at it. As is the pivot upon which the concept of forgiveness takes on a ne meaning that puts a task out there for us to fulfill.

So I find myself looking within to find how I practice forgiveness. Do I allow little bits of lingering bitterness weaken my forgiveness? Do I limit my own forgiveness because I cannot truly forgive?

As one little word, two little letters but oh such power.

Mary Devries