Day 8: This Terrible Duty (30th July)

 

The Reading Today

• Daily Theme: The Command to Forgive
• Source Material: Mere Christianity

My Reflection

Today’s reading required no secondary research or re-reading to understand. I knew instinctively what Christian duty Lewis was discussing, as well as the immense challenges it presents—not just on a global scale, but right in our personal lives.

When Lewis speaks of "enemies," he uses the word in its broadest sense. It applies to countries at war, but also to those closer to home: people we have fallen out with, those we dislike, or those whose behaviour we find impossible to accept. Lewis acknowledges how monstrous this duty can feel, explicitly mentioning how a Pole or a Jew in WWII might feel when asked to forgive the Gestapo. We see this same agonising tension today in conflicts across Ukraine and the Middle East, such as the horrific attacks that sparked the current war between Israel and Hamas.

On a personal level, this resonated deeply. I struggled for years with similar issues regarding my own mother, whose actions and attitudes towards me were incredibly difficult to forgive throughout my childhood and into adulthood. While our issues were never officially resolved before her death, I was eventually able to forgive her in my heart and mind. Doing so brought me a sense of peace and ended what had felt like a never-ending internal battle.

Lewis quotes the Lord’s Prayer to remind us that we are required to forgive others in the exact manner we wish to be forgiven. He concludes with a stark reminder:

"There is no slightest suggestion that we are offered forgiveness on any other terms."

There is no grey area here. Forgiveness is a strict requirement, and it is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

 

Why This Matters

Forgiveness does not mean excusing evil or pretending harm was never done. It means choosing to release the debt and malice we hold against someone else so that hatred doesn't consume us. It is a daily moral challenge, and on a personal level, I try to go easy on myself—reminding myself that I am an imperfect being and will not always get it right every time.

My Action for Today

Today, when old resentments or personal grievances surface, I will practice releasing the impulse for retaliation, remembering that forgiveness is a continuous act of the will rather than a simple, one-time feeling.

Reader Question

Lewis calls forgiveness a "terrible duty" because of how costly it is. Have you ever found that forgiving someone—even long after the fact—brought you a sense of personal peace? Let me know in the comments below.