Confession

Today I had my First Confession, and it was to be frank...astounding. I didn't feel anything at first, it was like, "So...I'm absolved of my sins, I don't feel different." Then I knelt and began my penance, and the tears came to me.

Father had recommended shredding my list of sins when I got home, but I decided I would burn them. Not just for the drama's sake, but for the symbolism of how the Sacrament burns away our sins. I did this in the bath tub, full of water, just in case.

I lit one match and put it to the sheets of paper, only to have the flames dance quickly to my fingers, so I dropped the papers in the water, outing the flames. I tried again with a single sheet, in a portion that was still dry, and again the flames danced up towards my fingers too quickly. So I decided a new approach was needed, and placed my papers on the spigot/faucet where the water came out, it was broad and easily capable of holding them. So I lit another match, and watched with satisfaction as it burned at first, then fizzled away as the waters inside the paper met the flame and snuffed them out.

When I looked at the sheets one by one, not a single sin had been struck down by the flames. It was a fine reminder of why we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation though; it is by God's Grace we are given our freedom from sin, it is not by our own hands.