ounds like  a pretty proud statement doesn't it?  It's hard for us to be the worst person who ever walked the face of the earth.  Paul persecuted Christians and even said that it was right when Saint Stephen was stoned to death.  Saint Peter denied Jesus three times.  Both of them became great Saints.  It is doubtful if the Church would be as strong as it is today if they'd said, "But if I walked into the temple, the roof might cave in!"  Certainly we're not perfect.  But we're not the worst, either.  If Jesus could give Paul and Peter a second chance, it's likely that we'll get one as well!

We may wonder why we feel guilty.  We feel guilty because we're guilty!  None of us are perfect, that's for sure.  We inherited some pretty heavy sin from Adam and Eve.  It doesn't just go away.  Just as they fell to the temptation of making excuses and trying to get out of trouble, we can easily do the same.  Sometimes we just want to do things our own way.  Because of our guilt and our determination to do so we don't really want to hear about another way.

We try then, to make things turn out well.  We can get into an unhealthy relationship and still try to prove to others that we can reform the other person.  We might know that many things are not right, but choose to do them anyway.  Sometimes our pride can keep us from admitting our wrongdoing.  That same pride can keep us from experiencing the happiness and peace we seek.

When we've chosen to do things our own way it can be tempting for us to just "put our hands over our eyes and ears" and not see or listen to what others are telling us.  We may stop listening to our parents and family members.  We can earnestly try to make things turn out well.  When we're doing this we'd rather not hear about moral standards and commandments.  Moving away from the Church can seem very natural to us.  It's hard to listen to a different way when we've chosen not to follow it.

od does not stop loving us when we choose another way.  We can listen to the story of the prodigal son and the woman caught in adultery.  God has waited until now and will continue to wait as long as necessary.  Just as the father in the story waited for the return of his son who had failed miserably, God awaits our return.  We won't be scolded or condemned.  No rocks will be thrown at us.  All we need to do is return and begin the process of cleaning up some of the damage our self-will has caused.  

Click here to read some "c'mon back" stories, where it is so clear that God's love is always there, that God's call to return is always available to us!  Why not c'mon back?!