STRAINING AHEAD.The Israelites in exile, St Paul the apostle and the woman caught in adultery all had shameful pasts. They acknowledged their sins but were not weighed down by them because they experienced the forgiveness of God. Freed of the burden of their sin they were able to continue on their way. We also are sinners but with God’s forgiveness we too can put the past behind us and strain ahead for the prize to which God is calling us upwards to receive in Christ Jesus.