Choosing Forgiveness
"In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the worst thing you can do is nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt
I really want to consider forgiveness today. What comes to your mind when you hear that word? Does the idea of forgiving someone seem like an easy thing to do? Does it feel natural? Does it feel like you are doing the right thing? Does it feel like you are doing nothing?
Maybe forgiving someone else is easy. But what about forgiving yourself? Can you do it? If you can, how long does it last?
I appreciate how Gerald Jampolsky explains the function of forgiveness in Lesson 2 of Love is Letting Go of Fear:
"Forgiveness as defined here, is different from the way most of us have been trained to understand it. Forgiveness does not mean assuming a position of superiority and putting up with or tolerating behavior in another person that we do not like. Forgiveness means correcting our misperception that the other person harmed us.
The unforgiving mind, contrasted with the forgiving mind, is confused, afraid and full of fear. It is certain of the interpretation it places on its perceptions of others. It is certain of the justification of its anger and the correctness of its condemning judgement. The unforgiving mind rigidly sees the past and future as the same and is resistant to change. It does not want the future to be different from the past. The unforgiving mind sees itself as innocent and others as guilty. It thrives on conflict and on being right, and it sees inner peace as its enemy. It perceives everything as separate.
Whenever I see someone else as guilty, I am reinforcing my own sense of guilt and unworthiness. I cannot forgive myself unless I am willing to forgive others. It does not matter what I think anyone has done to me in the past or what I think I may have done. Only through forgiveness can my release from guilt and fear be complete."
Current events around the world are a testament to the need for forgiveness and I am skeptical of the reality that others have not harmed others. Sticks and stones and trucks and bombs, these are behaviors that I do not want to put up with or tolerate. Yet when it comes down to the person behind the bombs, driving the trucks and throwing the stones, if we had the chance to lunch with them and look them in the eyes, we would see a person, trapped in the chains of an unforgiving mind, trapped in fear. And I cannot achieve happiness unless I can look them in the eyes and forgive them. "Forgive them for they know not what they do." Peace within me. Peace to offer to my neighbors. Peace to offer to my country. Peace to offer to my world. And it begins to be a better place. And it begins with ME...and YOU.
Peace be with you,
Ronda
Choosing Forgiveness
Maybe forgiving someone else is easy. But what about forgiving yourself? Can you do it? If you can, how long does it last?
I appreciate how Gerald Jampolsky explains the function of forgiveness in Lesson 2 of Love is Letting Go of Fear:
"Forgiveness as defined here, is different from the way most of us have been trained to understand it. Forgiveness does not mean assuming a position of superiority and putting up with or tolerating behavior in another person that we do not like. Forgiveness means correcting our misperception that the other person harmed us.
The unforgiving mind, contrasted with the forgiving mind, is confused, afraid and full of fear. It is certain of the interpretation it places on its perceptions of others. It is certain of the justification of its anger and the correctness of its condemning judgement. The unforgiving mind rigidly sees the past and future as the same and is resistant to change. It does not want the future to be different from the past. The unforgiving mind sees itself as innocent and others as guilty. It thrives on conflict and on being right, and it sees inner peace as its enemy. It perceives everything as separate.
Whenever I see someone else as guilty, I am reinforcing my own sense of guilt and unworthiness. I cannot forgive myself unless I am willing to forgive others. It does not matter what I think anyone has done to me in the past or what I think I may have done. Only through forgiveness can my release from guilt and fear be complete."
Current events around the world are a testament to the need for forgiveness and I am skeptical of the reality that others have not harmed others. Sticks and stones and trucks and bombs, these are behaviors that I do not want to put up with or tolerate. Yet when it comes down to the person behind the bombs, driving the trucks and throwing the stones, if we had the chance to lunch with them and look them in the eyes, we would see a person, trapped in the chains of an unforgiving mind, trapped in fear. And I cannot achieve happiness unless I can look them in the eyes and forgive them. "Forgive them for they know not what they do." Peace within me. Peace to offer to my neighbors. Peace to offer to my country. Peace to offer to my world. And it begins to be a better place. And it begins with ME...and YOU.
Peace be with you,
Ronda
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