Thanks for checking back in for my further (mis)adventures. Sparing you the grim details of how I came to be incarcerated in 2022 (in short, it involved striking a family member, and alcohol was involved) let’s just say at that time I was in dire need of working some deep and passionate forgiveness. Any evangelist worth their rosary beads will concur that Jesus (aka “God in skin, a nifty little phrase I read somewhere) was martyred for all our sins; yours, mine and even grumpy grits over there. So when I arrived in jail, I started on the road to repentance, relying heavily on the search engine that accompanied our NKJV Bible app on our e-tablets.

When I typed in “forgiveness,” right away over 30 related passages appeared, and I transcribed most of them into my marble-cover notebook. Here are two that spoke to me especially:

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and delivered us into the kingdom of the son of his love, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” ~ Colossians 1: 13-14

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” ~ Romans 4: 7-8

I often prayed on these and other verses, knowing that as I forgave others and asked for their forgiveness, God in his mercy forgives all and allows us the chance for a new life and new beginnings. Here are two affirmations: Romans 12:2 :

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing and perfect will of God.” ~ Romans 12:2

After my first notebook was filled and categorized with notated scripture, I began the second notebook with a more comparative and inclusive intention, hence the reason I started this blog; to reflect on what I was feeling at those times, and what might be worth saving just for fun (i.e. some light-hearted rhymes, poignant quotes, selected song lyrics and a serious original poem or two.) If you indulge me by continuing to read these posts, all will be revealed in time. And I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I’m itching to finish what I started in the previous post, so do please come back for “Idle Worship Part 2.” For now, I’ll leave you with this preview teaser, and hopefully things will start to make more sense (for all of us.)

“Beginning Anew…is to change your mind and heart, to transform the ignorance that brought about wrong actions of body, speech and mind, and to help you cultivate your mind of love. Your shame and guilt will disappear, and you will begin to experience the joy of being alive. “

~ From Teachings On Love by Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnamese Buddhist monk, 1927 – 2022.) Learn more about him and his teachings at www.plumvillage.org .