First Reconciliation

God has this plan. A community. We were meant to be a community. Sin, our individual and collective failure to enter our full possibility, has made authentic community elusive. We hang on our “rights” in order to abuse one another. We work tirelessly to get what we think we deserve, and even when we get it we work even more tirelessly to make sure no one can take it from us.

That’s Judah. That’s me.

Today, Judah forgave Tamar and acknowledged his own sin. He was reconciled to her. Although she bore him two sons, he regarded her rightly as his daughter-in-law. They were restored to their original, right relationship. Confession, forgiveness, reconciliation.

In their restoration is the hope of our collective restoration. The way of Judah was self-righteous defense of his rights. The way of Judah has become the way of givenness. Allowing each to be what it is without imputing worth solely on the basis of personal utility.

It’s a grand leap in a short paragraph for an obstinate and determined man. But this moment of change set Judah’s life in a totally new direction. In a moment Judah changed