ABSOLUTION
FOR A WEEK

Topics: Character; Forgiveness; Guilt; Motives; Pardon; Redemption; Regret; Self-centeredness; Shame; Sin; Values

References: Psalm 39:6; Isaiah 45:13; 55:1–2; Colossians 3:12–13

Upon the death of Pope John Paul II, Rogers Cadenhead, a self-described “domain hoarder,” registered www.BenedictXVI.com before the new pope’s name was announced. Cadenhead had the name before Rome knew it was needed.

The right domain name can be lucrative. Another name, PopeBenedictXVI.com, secured $16,000 on eBay. Cadenhead, however, didn’t want money. A Catholic himself, he was happy for the church to own the name. “I’m going to try and avoid angering 1.1 billion Catholics and my grandmother,” he quipped.

He did want something in return, though:

     1.     one of those hats

     2.     a free stay at the Vatican hotel

     3.     complete absolution, no questions asked, for the third week of March 1987

Makes you wonder what happened that week, doesn’t it? It may even remind you of a week of your own life.

—Max Lucado, Facing Your Giants (W Publishing Group, 2006)