7 x 70

So this past summer, I went to Spirit West Coast, and I heard this song by Chris August. It caught my attention and I really liked it, so I'm sharing it with you!

This song ultimately is about forgiveness. It basically talks about how in childhood, Chris August's life was difficult because he grew up in a broken home. He speaks in his commentary on it about how people look at their childhood and say "well, it's shaped me to be who I am," without understanding the true repercussions of it. Not that it makes you tough and independent in a good way, but rather in a way that you can end up finding yourself disconnected from the people you used to love.

When I listened to this song, it didn't relate to me in that my family was broken, or that I had unresolved issues with my biological relatives. However, sometimes, I do realize that I become bitter because of the people in Christ's family. Thinking on that, I realize that it's so sad that people who we think are supposed to be uplifting can really tear you down. And that, in turn, can make you senseless and unfeeling, or it can make you angry and untrusting.

This song draws from the verse, Matthew 18:21-22, which says:
Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

That's basically saying that no matter how much resentment you feel towards someone, or no matter how much someone has hurt you, it's not up to you to judge them. Leave that to God. The worst you can do is not forgive someone, because it doesn't just hurt whoever "wronged" you, but it hurts you the most. The feeling of being unable to accept something in the past is very difficult to deal with, and forgiveness sometimes can seem just as difficult. But the repercussions of forgiveness are far better than the repercussions of holding a grudge.

7 times 70 times
I’ll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way
7 times 70 times
There’s healing in the air tonight
I’m reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around

God isn't calling us to forgive "just this once," or even "490 times (for all you smart people)," but he's calling us to forgive continuously. Yes, you can learn from past experiences, but you can either grow cold or grow up. Me and my trust issues have a hard time accepting this, but this song reminds us that there's healing in the air tonight when we can let go and let God.

Boop Boop Beep Beep, it's getting late, so thanks for reading!
P.S. Chris August's story behind this song is on youtube, as well, if you wanted to look at it. :) TTFN!