There is a story collected by that which you may do or not do. It appears as the City of Regret, not emeralds. It is a city you don't plan to visit but which you begin to recognize as a guilt trip.
You book a flight on "Wish I Had" airline. You have to carry your own baggage and arrive at the "Last Resort Hotel," where you have your own personal "Pity Party."
All the old colleagues are there. The Done family: Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. All the Yesterdays are there: Shattered Dreams, Broken Promises, and their friends, Don't Blame Me and Couldn't Help It. Entertaining was the renowned storyteller, It's Their Fault.
Do you know how to get out?
"Thus says the Lord: remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new."
Yet, some people paralyze their lives by living in their past sins. "It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more."
What do you let paralyze you?
An anger toward someone in your family which has resulted in not speaking?
Is it an old sin which you can't seem to let go?
An attitude towards someone, or a race of people, or the Church, that justifies alienation?
A disregard for God as a real part of your life and decisions you make?
Your inability to forgive as you pray, "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us," knowing that to forgive is to work with the power of God?
That you really don't do anything to help others except your own self?
By sadness or depression over the death of a loved one or some family problem or divorce?
"Your sins are forgiven, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
Your sins are forgiven. You don't have to drag all those sins behind you. Leave them, pick up your life and go home to your true self.
"Your sins I remember no more." God chooses not to remember because his Son has freed you from your sins out of love for you.
In the 15th century, a Church was built during a time of a paralyzing illness. Wide doors, gently sloping ramps, access was perfect. They did not finish the dome. It was left open as a reminder to be ready to help bring people to Jesus.
Most of us know somebody who needs Jesus. They need Jesus, but they may need you to bring them to Jesus. You do that with your faith.
"Jesus saw their faith." Don't let anything like a closed roof or a closed mind and heart stop you when a friend needs Jesus.
There is a legend about what happens to you at the entrance to heaven. Two questions will be asked that might prove so embarrassing that it's better to ask them now, while there is still time. "Did you come alone?" If your answer is yes, the second question is,"How could you?"
There are no other questions.