There is a large area in northern France where access is highly restricted.

This region is known as the “Red Zone”, it is over four hundred square miles of apparent viable farmland, but it literally holds a toxic history.

In World War I, this land was ground zero for battle after battle.

Germany and France had one of the longest and bloodiest battles in all of world history in this region. So many conflicts took place at this strategic location, it may never recover. It is reported that over the years, more than a million people, soldiers and civilians combined, lost their lives in what is now called the “Red Zone.”

Today, you can readily find rusted military ordinance, craters from exploded shells, and the remains of fortified bunkers. Poisonous chemicals have seeped into the soil and it will take an estimated five hundred years for the land to be considered habitable. After the war, instead of cleaning the land, it was deemed a casualty of war, and the residents who survived were forced by the government to relocate.

Sometimes, things get so ugly, no amount of clean-up will do.

Relationships may dissolve into toxic territories, places once considered safe can morph into dangerous ground, and habits formerly tolerated can end up ripping at the fabric of a healthy life.

You may be able to re-establish a relationship after forgiveness and healing, that’s a wonderful thing. But, not everyone will do the honest work of reconciliation. You may be able to go back to that place where something awful happened, but wisdom may lead you to avoid it altogether. You may be able to pick up a habit or hobby that once controlled you, but most of the time, it is wise to abstain completely.

If you’re a Christian, you are compelled to forgive, be it instantly or through an ongoing process.

But, the present choice to forgive someone, should never be permission for mistreatment in the future.

Grace is free, forgiveness can be total, but you don’t have to go back to the toxic places or people in your life.

You can show grace and at the same time set up boundaries that you demand be respected.

You can forgive and still move on from the source of the conflict.

You can live in today’s peace while avoiding the poison of yesterday’s war.

-Tom Wise