Such motions and stirrings as these seem good; nevertheless, if thou ransack it well, thou shalt find it more fleshly and sensual sometimes against the person than spiritual against the sin; for thou shouldst love the man, be he never so sinful, and hate the sin in every man whatever he be. Many are beguiled in this, for they set the bitter instead of the sweet and take darkness instead of light, contrary to the prophet, saying: Woe to you who call evil good, and good evil; putting darkness for light, and light for darkness; putting bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Thus do all they who, when they should hate the sin of their neighbour and love his person, hate the person instead of the sin, and imagine that they hate the sin. Wherefore it is a special craft and art by itself whoso can do it well. (John Climacus)

I have been very bad at holding people accountable. Because of this weakness I have suffered and others have suffered.

In some cases, perhaps even most, those who are accountable have suffered as well, perhaps even worst of all. They have seen what they have done or left undone. They have known its consequences. Yet they have been kept in relationship with me and others.

My task has not been to hold others accountable for sin. The accountability of which I speak is of a lesser sort; yet, here too, they failed to hit the mark.

Each day, sometimes it seems each hour, I fail to hit the mark. My efforts fall far short of God's intentions. It is sometimes difficult to love myself.

Yet I seek God's love and need God's mercy and hope my prayer is answered: forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.