Nail pounder.

Nail pounder

We still pound nails into the cross of Jesus.

By we, I mean us... all of us. Each time each of us does some heart-stopping act, from a sharp insult to something far worse, we drive those nails into Jesus’ hands and feet even further.

And I am talking about us. All of us.

Interestingly, this is not a Christian paper yet this is a Christian column which makes writing to all of you well, amazing. And good. And sweet. And wonderful. Some of you are devout. Some of you are in denial. Some of you are recovering from some past, painful church experience. Some of you are mildly curious. Others of you are just passing the time.

But each of us—believers, non-believers and all in between, are living in the grace Jesus provides for us on the cross when he took our sins there to die.

Now, here’s a question. what are we going to do about this?

I have met AMAZING non-Christians who are AMAZINGLY generous, mindful, and kind. Jesus does not offend them. Somehow there’s a disconnect that we Christians pray will connect someday soon. Very soon.

I mention these AMAZING people because they will give you the shirt off their back. They certainly are charitable, responsible and altruistic. Far more than likeable, they’re lovely. Genuinely lovely. And I see Jesus beautifully smiling at them.

I also see our world trying to do what is good and right.  Few of us really want to harm those around us. Most of us want peace.

What if at this time of the year (which is Lent for us Christians), all of us actually thought and acted collectively about grace, mercy and peace? What if we took a moment and stopped our own angry thoughts and negative behaviors at least for a while and realized that beyond us there IS a better way?

What if we really gave forgiveness a chance?

Here’s the deal. Bruised, beaten, and bloodied beyond measure, Jesus never forgot what he was doing on the cross. He never stopped loving. He never stopped praying. He never stopped forgiving.

Specifically, he never stops forgiving us.

We can think that the ancient story is just that—ancient—but it isn’t. Jesus died for our sins and our sins keep driving nails into that cross.

And Jesus keeps doing what Jesus does, which is forgiving us.

The Son of God could have come down from the cross. He could have walked away. He could have spared himself, but he died so that we may live eternally with him. Isn’t that worth noting? Specifically, isn’t that worth acting upon?

I say yes.

Christian or not, consider this. Stop driving your nails into Jesus’ hands and feet.