When Tilda said that this Connections would have the theme of “forgiveness”, I immediately thought of marriage. And so did my husband Rob!
More specifically, I thought about the marriage prep courses that I run for Cotham.
In my introductory email I tell our couples that “we offer the course because the themes of loving relationship, compassion and forgiveness are central to both marriage and faith”. During the two evenings of the course we usually get into a conversation about forgiveness: what it means to the couple, where they’ve experienced it, the role they expect it to play in their relationship. I often share a few quotes that I find inspiring and thought I’d share them in this Connections:
“To forgive is to recognise once again – after separation – the covenant which binds us together…. It is to be open and listening once again. It is to give space in our hearts. That is why it is never easy to forgive. We too must change. We must learn to forgive and forgive and forgive every day, day after day.” Jean Vannier
“[Relationship] isn’t something you find; it’s something you make. It’s a choice you make….over and over again.”
And finally, my favourite:
“Out beyond our ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” Rumi
Relationship, like church, like faith, like life: a place to grow in forgiveness every day.
Alice Chapman