Then I got to thinking about it and decided to take a serious look at contradictions.  Look them up in the dictionary and you get this:

          Contradiction:  disagreement, challenge, negation or denial… opposition, inconsistency, ambiguity, paradox, conflict.

          Okay, so we have defined it.  But what does it mean to each of us? 

          Faith can be a contradiction.  It is the opposite of skepticism or unbelief.  It is the absence of agnosticism or atheism.  There are those who think evolution is in contradiction of the creation story.  I believe it is one explanation of how God created the Earth and all that is on it.  Think about this.  Something as well thought out and well conceived at the human body surely didn’t simply get drawn in the sand.  That may simply be an over simplified version of our creation.  It makes sense to me that God worked slowly, methodically, even meticulously to create such a wonderfully made and versatile thing as you or me.  He certainly didn’t do it randomly.

          The bible is full of contradictions to anyone who does not really take the time to study and try hard to understand.  The birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament.  However, it we look at the life of our Savior we know that forgiveness was not so easy to come by in the Old Testament.  This was a wonderful offer from the Son of God.  What then?  Was this a contradiction of the Law of the Old Testament?  I believe it was the fulfillment of that law.  The law was thereby simplified to make it more attainable for each of us.  The law is a set of rules.  These are the commandments of God.  They are to be followed because we through living by these commandments can be made complete.  As such, we are illegible to enter into the Kingdom which God has made for us all.  It is a place where our spirit will live forever in peace and harmony.

          This is in contradiction to the evil ways the world will many times lead us if we choose to follow.  Forgiveness is a gift to us from our Heavenly Father.  What does he ask of us in return for this gift?  He asks us to pay it forward.

          “As you forgive others, so shall you be forgiven?”  You have heard the expression, “forgive and forget.”   If you feel a brother or sister has wronged you it may not be easy but you should try to understand why he did what he did and give him the benefit of a doubt.  After all, we are all human. 

          There is another point to ponder, too.  If you feel you must find someone to blame, the chances are that you are simply trying to distract the focus from your own shortcomings.

          Keep in mind one of the most important teachings of Jesus Christ was, “Judge not, lest you be judged.”

God bless you, one and all.