At some point, you will need to give and receive forgiveness

There are two universal truths when it comes to forgiveness.

The first is you have done something to someone for which you need to be forgiven.

The second is similar; someone has done something to you that you need to forgive.

There is no way to get around it. At some point in your life, you will need to receive and extend forgiveness. One is easier to do than the other.

African gazelles easily can jump over a 10-foot fence. When you see them in the zoo, though, you will notice they are entrapped behind a 6-foot wall.

Why would an animal that could jump a fence much higher choose to remain in a life of captivity?

The answer lies not in what the gazelles can do, but in what they cannot see.

African gazelles will not jump if they cannot see where they are going to land. So a zoo can construct 6-foot walls around African gazelles because they know they cannot see the other side and will not jump the wall.

They are held back by what they could easily conquer.

The fear of a possible lion or other predator waiting for them on the other side of the wall keeps them in captivity.

It becomes easier to live in captivity than risk the possible dangers of freedom.

Most of us approach seeking forgiveness in the same manner.

We know we want our relationships restored. We know we want our friendships back.

What keeps us in captivity is not our ability to seek and extend forgiveness, but our fear of what will happen when we jump the wall. If I go to them and ask for their forgiveness, they may consume me.

If I go and forgive them, they may devour me. This leaves us trapped.

Jesus, teaching on prayer in Luke 11:4a, says, "and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us." In other words, those who have been forgiven practice the art of forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a gift we receive and a gift we extend.

We are left with a daily choice: Do we receive and then extend forgiveness, or do we remain behind the wall -- separated from God and from each other?