“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2)

The late Henri Nouwen penned a precious little book called Beyond The Mirror. It is a deep dive into his near death experience in the 1980’s. Faced with his imminent demise, forgiveness was the most important thing at hand. God’s love bathed Henri in peace and safety as he let go of his anger, frustrations and resentments. He felt Jesus enter the room and invite him home, where he belonged. It was a most wonderful feeling he said!

Resentments are said to be the biggest challenge to recovery. We let them eat away at our serenity, tugging at our hearts and pulling us back out into our addiction.  They keep us distant from God’s love. That’s not where we belong. We belong with, and, to God. But we can’t enter God’s grace here on earth until we relinquish our hate, anger, frustrations and resentments. It’s such an important step to get to God’s heart, that Jesus instructed: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

Where do you belong? With God, of course. Jesus prepared a place for us with God. He died on the cross so that we could be reconciled with God. Jesus took on our sin and washed us clean. All we need to do is to forgive and allow God’s love into our hearts.