In Part 3 of the “Fall Into Forgiveness” series, we looked at forgiveness as an ever-present reality. This begs the question: when, if ever, is it appropriate to ask for forgiveness? To answer that question, let’s start with a brief reminder of what forgiveness is in concrete terms…

I was born and raised in a Christian home with Christian notions of forgiveness. And while my beliefs have certainly evolved since my childhood, I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss my thoughts on forgiveness as it relates to the Christian faith. Now, if Christianity makes you want to run for the the hills, I’m not going to stop you. I understand you may have been deeply hurt or even traumatized by a Christian in the past. So, if this is at all triggering for you, please feel free to stop reading here.

Several years ago, I was working for a person with whom I rarely saw eye to eye. One morning, I walked into my office to find my boss had taken the liberty of rearranging my desk, including removing personal items, without asking or notifying me in advance. And if that weren’t enough, they explained away their actions with a slimy smile, insisting my office looked “unprofessional.” I was furious and even humiliated by their attempt at an unnecessary power play, and I wanted nothing more than revenge…