Seeing the Invisible

Dear friends,

Who can boast of being free?

Who has not got
secret prisons,
invisible chains,
all the more constricting
the less they are apparent?

Archbishop Dom Helder Camara, Brazil.

The longer in the tooth I get the more I think that Dom Camara was right. It's easy to see many physical disabilities, but there are hidden disabilities like asthma, anxiety and depression. Our responsibility is dual: to ensure that we do not discriminate against those who have disabilities, and to work as Christians to set people free from those invisible chains which imprison. This month I want to talk about a couple of those things: bearing grudges against others, and being unable to forgive yourself. The two are related.

In families people bear grudges for years, decades and half-centuries. They hold them so long that the original reason for holding the grudge is forgotten. A sleight, a deliberate insult, an accidental upset, a forgotten birthday or invitation.

In communities people do the same, you can choose your friends, but not your families or for that matter your neighbours.

Some people feel guilty about things they have done, thought, or not done, they can hold on to that guilt for years, decades, and longer. Guilt destroys lives, and the inability to forgive ourselves leads inevitably to the inability to forgive others as we should do, remembering that God forgives us through Jesus Christ.

God wants to set people free: you, and me, your family, friends, neighbours, our communities. Have a great summer, enjoy some holiday if you can, and try to forgive and forget. Holding on to anger, grudges, upset or guilt is very bad for you.

God bless.
Your friend and vicar,

Adrian