Grace II

Forgive us our debt
As we forgive those indebted to us.
So we were told to pray and yet
And yet
We've built an entire conglomeration on
The idea that our debt has already been forgiven
No matter our debt
No matter our trespass
(these do not mean the same thing)
And we forget to forgive others
As we ourselves have
(So we preach)
Been forgiven.

Today was not an easy day
At work. Misunderstandings with colleagues,
Demanding customers,
Projects well past deadline and over
Budget. Some days they couldn't pay me
Enough to keep doing this,
Enough to care, except I do.
I do
Care. And when I remember
To forgive, to let go, to
Let be, and to acknowledge
The day was not so easy
A day for other than myself
Alone, then maybe,
Just maybe
I can remember and stop
Badgering, stop my frustration
At my coworker
For that part of the project
That is keeping me from my own work, stop
From boiling over.
Maybe then I can breathe
And make space for the other,
Make room in my head (and in my heart)
And suddenly,
Almost imperceptibly the Truth
Takes hold. Not that our
Debts are not forgiven
Unless we ourselves forgive, but rather
In forgiving others, the weight of our debts
Lifts, as we become cognizant,
Truly cognizant (f only for an instant)
Of all we have been given,
All we have been forgiven,
And our debt of gratitude
We never can (and never need) repay.

— Zachary