In life, we sometimes have our expectations pleasantly go unmet or exceeded by the actual experience. For example, when you go to a concert to be entertained and learn about forgiveness; both of others – and more importantly – yourself. Such was the case when my wife and I attended an Audio Adrenaline concert a few years back during their Kings & Queens tour. It was a wonderful show that also included Seventh Day Slumber, Manic Drive, and Group1 Crew. I confess: I didn't dislike their music before that show, but I also wasn't someone who would seek out their music for listening leisure. Honestly, their the Kings & Queens song is what compelled us to go but I also was really looking forward to seeing Seventh Day Slumber perform. During Audio Adrenaline’s set, then front man Kevin Max began talking about Ocean’s Floor and its significance. I had heard the song a few times and found it to be calming, but never paid attention to it. As Max shared his personal story after leaving DC Talk and trying to go it on his own. Without his friends. You could hear regret in his voice. You could hear a desire for forgiveness. Though he didn't write the song – he explained how we all make mistakes, have regrets and what it means to release ourselves from guilt, shame and move on.

If God has granted forgiveness, why can we not forgive ourselves?

He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. ~ Micah 7:19

In my life, I have carry shame, regret, guilt, a longing for a chance to make things right. I've carried feelings of unworthiness and harbored resentment. I believed there was no god because I didn't want to consider the potential that there would be no place for me when my meaningless life was over. I was more content to believe that things simply ended with our last breathes than the possibility that this life is JUST THE BEGINNING of eternal life.

The mistakes I've made, That caused pain I could have done without All my selfish thought All my pride The things I hide You have forgot about

As Max sang the lyrics behind the harmonies of Audio Adrenaline, I started to ponder it all. Things I had considered and began to reconcile began to swirl in my head and the chorus hit as I transcended into an almost trance-like state:

They're all behind you They'll never find you They're on the ocean floor Your sins are forgotten They're on the bottom Of the ocean floor

How refreshing! Everything that had gripped my life for so many years was compacted into a little brick and tossed into the ocean so long ago. That's forgiveness! Why was it all a giant anchor around my ankles? Why did I let it hold me back?

My misdeeds All my greed All the things that haunt me now They're not a pretty sight to see

Everything. All the misdeeds and shortcomings – my very brokenness is “wiped away by a mighty, mighty wave.” That wave is Christ’s bloodshed. That mighty mighty wave says “Your sins are erased and they are no more.” They're out on the ocean floor - Take them away - To return no more - Take them away - To the ocean floor.