Finding Fault and Forgiveness

"for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk. 18:14)

No one is without faults.  "Lord be merciful to me a sinner."

"`Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.'" (Lk. 11:15-32)

I think these passages and icons speak for themselves.  However, I will add, and forgive me if this gets cryptic because am a tad tired and burdened, finding fault and seeking forgiveness is not the end of the story.  The next step is correcting the fault.  Sometimes that correction is long and painful.  If the fault is not corrected, the same problems will occur over and over.  The same fault will plague a person unto death.  

Even more so, the solution, the correction to problems are not always clear and or easily attained.  I have often heard people say you have to be consistent, because to really correct a deep problem is about correcting bad habits.  Habits are difficult to break.  At first, one tries to be diligent, but the bad habit nags and nags until one fails again.  But, then again with consistency that bad habit will fall away or the person will breakdown and go back to old ways.

I imagine that every once and a while the Prodigal son longed to carouse with friends again.  Then he remembered how painful it was at rock bottom and thought better.  I hope that he indebted himself to his father and worked away quietly and dutifully for the rest of his days.

Mno hya lita!