Forgiveness

"Forgiveness is a strange thing.  It can sometimes be easier to forgive enemies than our friends.  It can be hardest of all to forgive people we love.  Like all of life's important coping skills, the ability to forgive and the capacity to let go of resentments most likely take root very early in our lives."  Fred Roger ("Mr. Rogers")

Film Comment: Getting Ready Morally

This 1951 black and white film, Getting Ready Morally, would invoke groans and eye rolls from modern audiences, but the points it makes are still as valid as ever. It was made, surprisingly enough, by the United States military. The concern of the film is with innocent young men being suddenly away from home and family and expected to cope with the almost total lack of restraints and guidelines of free unsupervised adults.

Anyone whose son or daughter "went wild" during their first semester at college knows the validity of this film. One of the main points is that one's parents aren't there to help the young man (remember, this is 1951) make the right choices so the right choices must come from within the young man, ie. personal responsibility. The film counsels choosing one's friends wisely and avoiding some people altogether. Finding a mentor is also important as is thinking about consequences before taking actions. As the narrator says, "When you choose the start of a road, you also choose the end."

Christian Fellowship

Don't let yourself become disconnected from your Christian friends or from your church.

"Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." John 15: 4.

Christian Friends

     Find a Christian friend, or friends, who sharpens your mind and makes you think about weighty things.

"As iron sharpens iron,  so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17