Pebble in the Pond

A pebble dropped into a pond.

Affair or adultery, for example, is like a "pebble." The concentric rings that emanate from the pebble in the water are after-effects of the affair.

The sense of betrayal. The break-up of the family. Your spouse's depression. Your children's shame, fears, and embarrassment. Financial costs of the adultery or divorce. Loss of friends.

Healing, individually and relationally, entails "righting the wrong." Some call it repentance. Others say it's restitution. At times, it's not enough just to say sorry. You've to own your "pebble" and take responsibility and action to change.

So it's true with other types of "pebble."