John 8:4-11

"They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.  But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus has lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord.  And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
John 8:4-11


This is one of my favorite new testament stories... the woman was guilty... irrefutable proof.  The law was clear... being stoned to death was the punishment.  "fairness" and justice were satisfied with her condemnation.  But Christ, without denying justice, showed her mercy.  Significantly, Christ was the only one without sin, and he chose not to condemn her either.  He gave her another chance... and we all need another chance, no matter how many times we have screwed up.  Christ gives us that, always... our whole lives are a testing period, and even if we waste most of the time doodling on the answer sheet, God will still let us take it, and help us to pass.  He sees us individually, and knows what we need.  He has suffered our pains and our infirmities, he knows what it is like to *be* us... he *has* walked in our shoes, and he knows more about the path than we do.  If Christ, who knows everything and everyone, gave the woman another chance... then we need to give people another chance... and another, and another, and another.  Not that I think anyone should stay in an abusive situation, at all.... but we need to let people live and try again, and not judge them for the past.  Maybe our heart has been stomped on, or people in positions of authority have acted like idiots... we still need to be open, and to love... and we still need to pray for our leaders.  And we also need to give *ourselves* another chance.  God is there in our individual struggles just as much as he was with this woman taken in adultery.  He loves us just as much, and he will offer us the same absolution if we turn to try again.  No-one is ever lost in this life.  the test goes on... and only God determines when it is over for each of us.