(emphasis mine)
For Christ’s love COMPELS us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

My wife and I like to garden. This year we expanded our efforts and have zucchini, butternut, crookneck and straightneck yellow squash, six types of tomatoes, broccoli, rhubarb, sweet and spicy peppers, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, pears, snap peas, carrots, and eggplant. My wife loves the eggplant because the plant looks so cool with the purple stems. And I like the butternut squash because it has a buttery smooth flavor, and it looks cool.

As I was out checking the plants, I noticed the ever-so-tiny start of a butternut squash (see attached picture). It reminded me of the process of forgiveness that can lead to reconciliation.

It all starts with receiving forgiveness and new life from Jesus. When we recognize the utter depravity of our sin (both outward in actions and in the heart-motives), we can choose to receive the forgiveness that Jesus offers. Then we move on to letting his Spirit cleanse us from the anger, bitterness, and envy we have held onto. Finally we are free to forgive others with the forgiveness we ourselves first received from Jesus.

One small step down the forgiveness path, like the ever-so-tiny start of the butternut squash, and we can continue down the road of reconciliation we never quite thought was possible. And, oh, how rich and wonderful reconciliation is, like the rich, buttery taste of a butternut squash.

So who can I forgive and/or make amends with today, in order to see the wonderful gift of God in the reconciliation of people once separated by envy, grief, hate, jealousy, or bitterness?

Lord, thank you for this great reminder to be a reconciler of people. Teach me the art of forgiveness and reconciliation — I want to be a master practitioner!