By Robert Barthram
Every room in our home seems to have a bin but one bin is more significant than the others.
Years ago, as a young minister I was leading a church service which had people of many ages present and I wanted to illustrate how God can forgive all the wrongs we do.
I brought a metal waste paper bin from home.
I asked everyone to write or draw something on a piece of paper that they had done wrong. The papers were collected and put in the bin, then I set light to them.
At first there was just a small flame but it quickly grew to fierce flames and billowing smoke, with the room fast filling with the smoke.
It was then I realised I had my metal bin on a wooden chair so I picked it up to move it flapping around trying to unstick my burning fingers from the bin before finally placing it on the floor.
My troubles were not over for then I realised I had put the bin on the nylon carpet, clearly not a good idea.
With now my handkerchief in hand I rushed the bin out through a door to place it upon a stone floor returning to view the indelible circle now marking the brand-new carpet, sheepishly looking up at the congregation now doubled up in laughter.
A lesson never forgotten about the joy that can be ours with the forgiveness of sin.
We still have our scarred and blackened bin; it remains for us a symbol of how God can and does forgive us when we say sorry and seek his forgiveness.
Robert Barthram is minister of the Reading Group, United Reformed Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Reading
