Joy, for the unforgiven

'Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.'
---John Sullivan Dwight trans.

Have you ever been unforgiven? Longed for restoration, reconciliation, comfort that was not forthcoming? As I read and meditated upon the first verse of the lovely Christmas solo 'O Holy Night', the sense of dwelling in unforgiveness  overcame me. I have always wondered at the understated power of the term 'pining'; such a simple word for such a deep, soul-wracking longing. Can you close your eyes and feel the pain of a world weighed down under the load of falling short, of standing bent,  unforgiven?
Then. Then, Jesus appears on the scene, 'and the soul felt its worth.' Here in a stable, the world begins to turn upside down. Souls bowed under error, caught in habits and structures that neither work nor make sense, feel worthy. Would it be thrilling? To feel forgiven, worthy? Would it be like a new morning? I imagine it would.
Joy, for the unforgiven...