This
post, unlike what I told you I was planning to write on Sunday night,
is NOT random. It happened in the last two days and it's huge. I've
been wanting to write about “Red Balloon Day” for a long time,
THAT idea is in my jotbook, but to actually celebrate THE most needed
red balloon of my life, is even bigger. I'm thinking you need some
context.
about
a lonely little boy who is followed around the city by a red balloon.
It becomes his friend, they have adventures, and in the glorious end
to the movie, I see a lot of symbolism.
More
context: Back in the late 80s before the was the internet everywhere,
there were some ways to connect online, so friends of mine and I
participated in a forum abbreviated RATS. Rec.arts.tv.soaps. We all
watched “As the World Turns.” In fact, I watched ATWT for 17
years but have since reformed...not that it was easy. It was like
leaving a blogging community ~ friends made online that I never would
have met before and we didn't just discuss the show because c'mon, it
was a SOAP, but we got way into real life, too.
So
speaking of real life. There was a a participant who was going
through some tough times, and we were all encouraging him to forgive
and just let it go. I suggested calling it, “Red Balloon Day”
and he actually knew what movie I was talking about so we declared a
day, and we all “let our balloons” ceremoniously into the air,
letting go of past hurts, bad relationships, bad habits, you name
it. We had quite the celebration and bonding encouraging each other
over this.
I've
known for quite a while that there was a grudge, a non-forgiveness
I'd been holding onto for a long time. 3 years. But you might have
noticed I'm a bit stubborn, and no amount of good Christian friends
preaching forgiveness was going to deter me from my grudge. I'm not
usually like that – stubborn yes, unforgiving, no.
Then
a dear friend posted the parable of the unforgiving servant (found in Matthew 18:35) on her fb page...and stirred my thoughts.
You
might recall it's Matthew I'm teaching on Thursdays this year...so
it's yesterday morning that I come to that passage...and it clicks.
Forgive. FORGIVE. We have been forgiven much, forgive others. And
bawling my eyes out, I sent my balloon, with the company name, and
the name of my former boss, up into the air for my own unexpected Red
Balloon Day. It feels good.
~
Tina
P.S
For the full story of why this was necessary, you could read
“Abrupt U-Turn”
