Secret Sunshine

       The conversation at Signs and Wonders was really long tonight. Everybody was finding stuff to talk about. In fact, they were on such a roll that I think they imagined a little bit of symbolism that wasn't there....but anyway.....
       The main character Mrs. Lee went to visit a man who was in prison. He was the man who had murdered her son, and she, who had recently come to believe in Jesus, was going to forgive him. When she told the man that she had become a believer, and before she could tell him, "I forgive you," the man said, "I've become a Christian, too." Then he went on and on about how he has peace now, and he prays every day, and God has forgiven him.        
       Now isn't that just awesome? (As long as he's telling the truth, that is. At first, with the look he had on his face, I thought he was just trying to make fun of her.) But if you believe him, then that's awesome, right? All the other Christians thought it was awesome when they heard of the man's testimony.
       But Mrs. Lee was stunned. God forgave him? I think her exact words were, "How dare He?" How dare he give this murderer perfect peace and grace, just like that, while I, the innocent one, suffered agonizingly over my loss? And more importantly, how dare He forgive him before I could, how dare God forgive him before I, the victim, the one sinned against, had any say in whether this man should be forgiven yet? Mrs. Lee had decided that it was high time to forgive this man, so she goes to him as soon as possible, and when she gets there, God's already forgiven him!
      Somebody pointed out, during the Signs and Wonders discussion, that it seemed to be a pride thing. Oh, I, The Righteous Mrs. Lee, am going to share God's grace with this worthless, undeserving sinner (if you've really forgiven someone, would you still consider them "undeserving"? Hmm..). But I think it was pride mixed with jealousy that really made it a big problem for her. She gets there, and Bam! the worthless sinner isn't so worthless in God's eyes; in fact, God puts this man AS HIGH ON HIS PRIORITY LIST AS HER. In fact, maybe God even gave him salvation and peace before SHE got it. The murderer getting special treatment over the victim. Not. Fair. But just.
      It reminds me of something I read this week in Ezekiel: " Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal." (Ezek. 33:17). God was saying that it's OUR standards and OUR timetable that are messed up. His ways are just.
      Whether Mrs. Lee ever forgave the man remains to be seen. She got mad at God, and then the movie ended. Kinda reminds you of the book of Jonah, doesn't it?