Listen for forgiveness

Moya's career has taken her from being a member of Ireland's famous folk group, Clannad, to recording a smash hit with Bono and now traveling the world as a solo act while giving significant time to a number of charities and spreading the gospel message of God's love.

Moya talks very candidly about the 1970s and early 1980s when she was enjoying the fame of celebrity and, at the same time, being "drawn into the dark world." She acknowledges that many of her choices were poor, involving "plenty of drink and drugs" and, regrettably, an abortion.

In 1987, Moya was recuperating from a miscarriage at her parents' home in Gweedore, County Donegal. She had been living what she calls her "happy, partying ways," but was feeling very empty inside. While out for a walk, she stopped by her mother's church.

She had grown up in a family of faith. Her parents taught their children the important role God plays in our lives, but Moya was distracted by her "glamorous life." She still believed in God, but he just didn't have a role in her life. However, on that day she knew that she wanted to talk with God about turning her life around.

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As she sat in church, she felt that not only was God talking back to her, but that he was forgiving her and giving her a second chance. Without minimizing her mistakes, she realized that God wanted her to believe that he forgave her and would, if she worked with him, "make life better."

As a child, she had thought of God as all-powerful and that conjured up images of someone big and angry. On that day in church she found a "compassionate, forgiving God" and she also took the first steps to forgiving herself for some of the mistakes she had made.

"We can forgive one another," Moya told me. "That's easy compared to forgiving ourselves. We know what we have done and we know our darkest places. Telling ourselves that God forgives us is the first step to forgiving ourselves and erasing those dark places inside."

Moya noted that it's hard to forgive ourselves for the serious errors we've made and to really accept the fact that God forgives us. Yet, she encourages others to think about the reasons God sent his son to die for us so we could know heaven. She believes that this is the ultimate statement by God that he will forgive us. Moya Brennan also talked about taking time, maybe only 10 or 15 minutes, on a regular basis to sit quietly and talk to God. She says she tells him she's sorry for the mistakes made that day and then quietly listens to him forgive her because she is truly sorry.

The peace in our heart comes when, as Moya Brennan says over and over, "You remember to be quiet, listen to him talk to you, and hear the 'I forgive you.'" Moya travels the world sharing the gift of a beautiful voice and powerful message!

- - -

Dennis Heaney is the president of The Christophers.

- - -

For a free copy of the Christopher News Note "Living God's Joy," write: The Christophers, 12 East 48th St., New York, N.Y., 10017; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org.

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