"Building Bridges"

So…

If you could pick your future, what would look like, sound like, feel like - maybe even smell like?

While we often think our future is something that will just happen to us, the truth is actually different. Much our future is determined or at least influenced by what we are doing – and choosing – now.

Just think investing. 

Susie Orman gives the example of a 25-year-old who invests $100 a month in a Roth IRA for 40 years and earns a 12 percent annual return. When that person retires at age 65, their investment will be worth just over $1 million. If the same person were to start investing $100 per month at age 35, they’d only have around $300,000 by the time they reached 65. 

If in your future you plan to be a movie star, it might be time to take an acting lesson or two, and even go find Lisa Grainger and offer to be in a church murder mystery. I mean, even you can play a dead body.

And it may be that you will be a renown painter in your later life, even though right now you are an accountant, but it is likely there are things happening in your life – and could happen – that would help you get there! Time to get some paint, brushes and canvases!

That’s why it is so important to understand the power and purpose of forgiveness!
Forgiveness may help the past by wiping the slate clear of an injury done long ago, and in the present it may help heal a hurt between you and another - even heal a hurt in your own heart that is holding you back, holding you down, that released would allow you to grow and flourish.

But that same forgiveness can also be the very thing that is going to create a new future, a healing for you or for them or for a whole community that will allow an amazing new beginning with relationships that are growing and becoming life giving!

Because sometimes when there is hurt between two parties, confession and forgiveness can begin the process of building bridges. 

And it is the calling of the followers of Jesus to build the Kingdom of God one brick at a time; not a physical building, not even a physical nation, but a community of love, grace, peace, and joy.

And this story in Genesis illustrates how it can happen.

You understand why Joseph’s brothers were so afraid, yes?

They, the other sons of Jacob - the son of Isaac - the son of Abraham, had dumped their brother Joseph into a pit, sold him into slavery, and now faced the right hand of the mighty Egyptian Pharoah without the protection of their father who had died.

Yes, their cowardice was on full display. Yes, they knew they were guilty. Yes, they knew their lives were in Joseph’s hands. And yes they also fundamentally never understood the transformation God had done in Joseph’s life. That Joseph could and had forgiven them because of God’s amazing grace shown to Joseph!
And of all the mean, stupid, irresponsible things those brothers had ever done, this time they did something right!

They asked to be forgiven, they asked to be reconciled, and they asked if a bridge could be built between them and Joseph that would - unbeknownst to them - transform the future!

It’s a lesson we all need to get straight in our heads and hearts. 

Building bridges is gospel work, when we endeavor to connect with others in the community of faith, and even outside of it.

When we work for reconciliation between ourselves and those we have struggled with, and even with others who have struggled with each other.

When we work to overcome pain, alienation, separation, mistrust, and even anger because we realize that the future can be different because of Jesus’ love, grace, acceptance, and because of Jesus’ own sacrifice.

It is a calling and a skill we can acquire and hone each and every day as we look for those who are alienated and then in prayer seek ways to connect those who hurt - on both sides - to healing grace.

Just like Joseph’s brothers.

Looking for simple safety and hope for themselves and their families, they reached out and found reconciliation.

So, if you could pick your future, wouldn’t you want one where your relationship with the people you love were healthy, resilient, strong, full of hope and full of faith?
They can be. 

Start today, with forgiveness! 

Amen.