Baggage

Is it possible to meet people without bringing the "baggage of the past" into our interactions with them? In other words, do we allow each of our encounters with others to be fresh, unstained by people's past shortcomings? 

This isn't to say we should return naively time and time again to a merchant that rips us off, or to a significant other who abuses us, but we should allow people to change. 

This might be a great opportunity to treat others as we want to be treated; to give people the benefit of the doubt. 

Many of those who have wronged us may have no idea how their actions affected us. In this way it would be unwise for us to assume that they are constantly malicious - that attitude would only increase the distance between us. 

The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 is followed by a line that should cause us to pause: "For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive you."

Meeting others fresh, forgiving them for harm they have done us, is foundational to the health of our lives and our communities. May we have the grace and mercy to forgive as we have been forgiven.