title: git won't commit because a deleted file doesn't exist
body: <p>It appears that I've somehow gotten <code>git</code> into a state in which it won't commit because a file that's been deleted doesn't exist:</p>
  
  <pre>
  ~/src$ git status -u
  # On branch master
  # Your branch is ahead of 'origin/master' by 5 commits.
  #   (use "git push" to publish your local commits)
  #
  # Changes to be committed:
  #   (use "git reset HEAD ..." to unstage)
  #
  #   deleted:    release-vars.sh
  #
  ~/src$ git commit -a
  fatal: pathspec 'release-vars.sh' did not match any files
  ~/src$ ls release-vars.sh
  ls: cannot access release-vars.sh: No such file or directory
  </pre>
  
  <p>Any ideas on how to resolve this situation?</p>