We have a choice

I’ve been watching the show “The Spectacular Spider-Man” on DVD lately.  It stars Josh Keaton as the web slinger.  This show is spectacular indeed!  In fact, I would submit to you that this is the greatest Spider-Man cartoon series that exists to date.  This show does a great job of capturing the chaotic life of Peter Parker/Spider-Man.  It portrays the enemies that he faces, the hilarious (and corny) one-liners he gives, and the fact that he is still trying to live his normal life as Peter Parker, even in the midst of his responsibilities as Spider-Man.

In one episode, Spider-Man finally meets the man who murdered his Uncle Ben; in this incarnation it was a cat burglar named Walter Hardy.  Interestingly, Hardy actually chooses to help Spider-Man escape from prison (note: he is in prison because a villain named Green Goblin had managed to trap Spider-Man in jail with all the inmates he had helped put away).  Spider-Man’s reaction for this selfless act caught my attention.  When Hardy told Spider-Man his plan to help him break out, Spider-Man replied, “This doesn’t make us even.  You are not forgiven!”

We all can understand why Spider-Man would have this attitude toward the man who killed his uncle.  Peter was deeply hurt by what happened to his Uncle Ben, and he blames the man responsible for it.  In a similar way, we all have been emotionally hurt by someone else; this is just an inescapable reality of life.  The key is what we will do with that hurt.  It’s easy to nurse a grudge, and harbor anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. 

I know all about this.  I’ve been there.  I know how effortless it is to inwardly seethe and to desire revenge for what the other person did.  But, thankfully, I also know from personal experience the glorious liberating power of forgiveness.  I know that forgiveness releases you; it lets you move on with your life.  It grants you emotional and spiritual freedom. 

Aunt May made in a great statement in the movie Spider-Man 3; she said, “Revenge is like a poison. It can take you over.  Before you know it, it turns us into something ugly.”  In that film, Peter also dealt with unforgiveness toward the man who murdered his uncle (in this version it was Flint Marko).  At the end of the movie, Peter finally decided to extend forgiveness.  This is quite a contrast to Spider-Man bellowing, "You are not forgiven," to Hardy in "The Spectacular Spider-Man" episode that I described.  

I titled this blog, “We have a choice” because we each make the daily choice to walk in forgiveness or unforgiveness.  It’s easy to choose unforgiveness, but I want to live the rest of my life choosing forgiveness.  I hope you choose the same.

Kevin