Mandy Patinkin may be remembered for many roles in his Hollywood career, but probably none more so than his portrayal of the Spanish swordsman, Inigo Montoya in the film classic The Princess Bride. Montoya had dedicated his entire life to the revenge of his father, killed years ago by the evil Count Rugen. The line most remembered by fans is, “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” But Patinkin shares his favorite line which comes at the end of the film. Having completed his quest of killing the Count, Inigo remarks, “I have been in the revenge business for so long, now that it’s over, I don’t know what to do with the rest of my life.”
Can you associate with that? Is there a compelling sense of bitterness, hatred, revenge, or other negative emotion that tears your life apart? Something you have determined to carry to your grave? A person you have refused to forgive? Or maybe a negative behavior you know is not right, one that keeps you from experiencing God’s best for you, but you keep falling back into it? If so, I encourage you to give it up. Completely. Surrender it all to God and reconcile with others. Feel the weight of this terrible burden slip off your shoulders. Feel the renewal of your heart. Experience what it is like to take a full breath and feel the refreshment and freedom that comes only from forgiveness and turning to God. Turn from the emptiness of what is eating you up and taste the goodness of God, being filled with his grace.