What is harder than a life filled with old hurt, old feelings of anger, resentment or bitterness?
This offering is not meant as a ‘cure-all’ or the “only thing” one might need to come to a place of forgiveness. Just the same, what could it hurt in this moment to be open to see things differently?
What do we have to lose but our anger and past hurts, except perhaps our pride? And how can the ‘keeping of a pride’ that demands our anger or bitterness to survive be something we would want to keep? If having pride in ourselves relies on our condemnation of others, how can we ever be free? Each time someone does something that reminds us of an old wound, we are sometimes hurled back onto the rocks, even when we don’t necessarily want to go there anymore.
Moreover, we can’t condemn another without first condemning ourselves. Why do ‘they say’ “When we are pointing one finger at others, there are three fingers that point back at us.” right? Even if we are having a hard time forgiving, or feel that forgiveness is simply unjustified in a particular case, we can still desire the effects that forgiveness must bring. Therefore, know that deep down we would like to forgive, if it were possible. In this way we can know ~ if we could lead ourselves into forgiveness, we would have already.
Forgiveness is waiting to avail itself in every situation that needs it, because that is its function.
Forgiveness comes from understanding. Understanding requires a larger view, most times. When we don’t understand something, it is because we don’t know everything involved or don’t have the whole story. When we are angry or hurt over past wrongs or injustices, it is sometimes very hard to see how there could be something that we don’t understand about what our five senses COULDN’T tell us. Maybe we feel that we have all the facts. That we can see the big picture and how it all fits together. Or maybe we are offended if someone suggests otherwise. Regardless, who is it ‘paying the price’ for the inner turmoil and anguish led to by anger and resentment ~ if not the angry and hurt themselves?
If we are open just a little bit to the idea that forgiveness is possible. What could it hurt? What is the outcome of anger but always more and more reason for more of the same? Anger is a fire not quenched, born in hurt, disappointment, broken hopes and shattered dreams. Who longs for anger but those confused at what they see, since who wants a reason for anger? Who can see clearly through the past if it is filled with reasons for doubt? Looking at reasons for doubt can never lead to certainty. And only a certain reason for forgiveness will do, since what is an uncertain or doubtful reason for forgiveness? The costs of anger is no secret on earth.
Why is being open to a new perspective so important? Because if we could have led ourselves where forgiveness takes us, we would already be there in our experience. If there is anger or hurt from past injustices in our awareness, we are bound in our own prison walls and the sentence is death. If we could lead ourselves to forgiveness we would. Being open to the source of forgiveness is the first step. What is the source of true forgiveness? What is the source of all Love? By finding one, we have found the other.
Matthew Reva
Johnny Luminati
