The picture of me on this page was taken in Copenhagen at a historic soccer game between Denmark and Sweden in June of 2007. Dave had gotten free tickets through work and we went, super excited and it actually was a lot of fun to soak up the noise, the buzz of the place, the blue and yellow multitudes on the one side and us red and whites on the other. I have never attended a national game except that one time. Lots of jumping, shouting, singing, it really was an adventure. But the game ended suddenly when a drunk Danish guy ran onto the field and hit the ref. The game ended right then and there, and the Swedes were declared winners even though the game was tied at the time of the attack. We did not really grasp what had taken place, it had happened so fast. We were afraid the sudden tension would turn into fistycuffs so we snuck out quickly. There was a lot in the media about it during the first couple of weeks, the guy apologized profusely and went to jail for 20 days, because the poor referee had to limp out of the stadium. A tsunami has come and gone since then, as has several wars and famines. In that perspective it really was just a tiny ripple in the ocean of history. Until today. Because today the guy has been in Court. He has to pay a fine of 2.2 mill. Danish Kroner, an amount that he can never ever earn. Teary-eyed he stated that he wished he could apologize to each Dane personally. An employer terminated a work contract because of these fatal 20 seconds of stupidity. "And I will never be able to marry the woman I love because I do not want her to get tangled up in this mess I have made". It made me think. About choices, results of choices and regrets. In this society we let drunk drivers off with a slap on the wrist, rapists get a couple of years in jail and con artists who swindle for millions get out of jail the month after they get in. "The wages of sin is death" says the good book. Our choices have results. It seems that this society does not always meter out "the wages of sin" in proper proportions. We are all sinners, we all need grace. Personally, I am so thankful that Jesus has taken the load of guilt off my shoulders. I have made lots of stupid choices in my day. He died on the cross in my place. And every day His mercies are new, His grace equips me to make better choices. I am thankful for forgiveness. In my heart and in the church where I rub shoulders with lots of different people who bear the brunt of my insensitive remarks, wait patiently to start meetings because they know I always get lost on the way. It is good to have a church home that is a place of grace. It is great to live free of guilt. And if TV had just reached that interactive state that is just around the corner I would have looked the poor soccer guy in the eye and told him that on behalf of the 60 thousand spectators in that stadium in June of 2007: I forgive you!