{"id":105183,"date":"2025-03-16T07:44:32","date_gmt":"2025-03-16T11:44:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=105183"},"modified":"2025-03-16T07:44:32","modified_gmt":"2025-03-16T11:44:32","slug":"a-pastors-thoughts-forgiveness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/03\/16\/a-pastors-thoughts-forgiveness\/","title":{"rendered":"A Pastor\u2019s Thoughts: Forgiveness"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Bruce Gillette, First Presbyterian Union Church, Owego —<\/span><\/p>\n

The wonderful writer, Frederick Buechner, has some thoughtful questions for us to consider during Lent.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you had to bet everything you have on whether there is a God or whether there isn’t, which side would get your money and why?<\/span><\/p>\n

When you look at your face in the mirror, what do you see in it that you most like and what do you see in it that you most deplore?<\/span><\/p>\n

If you had only one last message to leave to the handful of people who are most important to you, what would it be in 25 words or less?<\/span><\/p>\n

Of all the things you have done in your life, which is the one you would most like to undo?<\/span><\/p>\n

Which is the one that makes you happiest to remember?<\/span><\/p>\n

Is there any person in the world or any cause that, if circumstances called for it, you would be willing to die for?<\/span><\/p>\n

If this were the last day of your life, what would you do with it?\u201d (Originally published in Whistling in the Dark and later in Beyond Words.)<\/span><\/p>\n

On Ash Wednesday, March 5, Christians heard the words of Psalm 51. Marjorie Thompson, a gifted writer on spiritual practices, sees this ancient prayer as inspiring questions:<\/span><\/p>\n

Where do we feel embarrassed or guilty about what we have done or left undone?<\/span><\/p>\n

When have our immediate feelings led us into unkind words or actions?<\/span><\/p>\n

Have we allowed others to influence us toward negative judgments of persons we do not really know?<\/span><\/p>\n

Do we accept hearsay and gossip without checking facts?<\/span><\/p>\n

Where does deceit have a hold on us, and how is it expressed in our lives?<\/span><\/p>\n

Thompson has written a six-session study on forgiveness for groups that will be used at First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. in person with a team of a dozen gifted teachers to lead the discussions, and on Thursday mornings at 9 a.m. online led by Pastors Bruce & Carolyn Gillette. Details and the handout for the first session can be found www.owegofpuc.org.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mayo Clinic has some helpful insights about what happens if you’re unforgiving; you might: bring anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience; become so wrapped up in the wrong that you can’t enjoy the present; become depressed or anxious; feel that your life lacks meaning or purpose, or that you’re at odds with your spiritual beliefs; lose valuable and enriching your connection with others.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you can practice forgiveness, the Mayo Clinic reports you can find you have healthier relationships, greater spiritual and psychological well-being, less anxiety, stress and hostility, lower blood pressure, fewer symptoms of depression, a stronger immune system, improved heart health, and higher self-esteem.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forgiveness is not easy. Maybe this is why Jesus includes it in his simple prayer asking for God\u2019s help: \u201cForgive us our debts\/trespasses\/sins (different words used in different translations) as we forgive our debtors\/ those who trespass against us\/ sin against us.\u201d  <\/span><\/p>\n

God can help us in Lent and throughout our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Bruce and his wife Carolyn Winfrey Gillette serve as pastors at the First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego.)<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Bruce Gillette, First Presbyterian Union Church, Owego — The wonderful writer, Frederick Buechner, has some thoughtful questions for us to consider during Lent. 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