Cancelled Flight: Victory Series, Part 50
"Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.
Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of
what else you put on, wear love." (Col 3:13-14 The Message)
The highlight of our New Zealand trip was cancelled! The winds around Mount Cook
were too turbulent and all air transport had been annulled. There wouldn't be a
helicopter ride over Mount Cook, we wouldn't be able to land on top of the
tallest mountain in New Zealand, and we wouldn't be able to admire pristine views
from the top!
A few years ago I would have been so mad that smoke would have streamed from my
ears. Literally (I know, I would have made a fortune at the circus, but believe
me, it's not worth it)! I mean, a trip of a life time cancelled by inclement
weather! Come on! Unforgiveness would have fostered in my heart and I would have
made anyone around me miserable.
To be honest though, I would have been the most wretched of all, as the snares
of unforgiveness robs us not only of vitality, but also of our real purpose for
living. If unforgiveness haunts our souls, we can forget about victorious
living! It's impossible for the two to go together!
"And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking.
If you have anything against someone, forgive - only then will your heavenly
Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins." (Mark 11:25 The
Message)
This time however, instead of getting mad and becoming unforgiving, I decided
that God had better plans for us. And He did! We explored our surroundings by
foot and discovered pristine scenes with Mount Cook in the background, scenes we
would have missed had I been puffed up with my hurt ego!
And once we arrived on the northern island, we discovered a helicopter ride to
White Island, the most active volcano island in the Southern hemisphere! It was
an out-of-this-world experience, one we wouldn't have been able to afford
if we had taken the Mount
Cook tour!
Unforgiveness is unhealthy. It eats us up from the inside out and defeats us
from ever experiencing inner peace, happiness and victory. By forgiving, we are
not only letting go of past offences, but we are liberating ourselves from a
vicious prison called self-pity.
I recently found an old prison building in the community of Port Dalhousie in
Ontario. The old building that once held its prisoners captive, preventing their
escape, has now been transformed into an ice-cream parlor, its doors open wide to anyone in
need of refreshment from the heat. Gone is the anger, and instead it had become
a place of relief and celebration.
"They've cancelled my Mastercard!"
So what, let's enjoy what God has given us. There is so much we can be thankful
for!
Rob Chaffart