[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erqJF_ppqbk[/youtube]One of my friends sent me an email the other day and asked me my thoughts about forgivness. As I see it, we’ve all been wronged, hurt, abandoned and/or betrayed. Most of us could build a great case against the perpetrators, lay blame and harbor anger, indignation and resentment, but animosity ties us in knots and we can spin out of control. Events in the past have the propensity to entangle our lives and the fallout can be devastating. We can get so wrapped up in the pain it consumes us, steals our joy and can even define us. The fog of anger and resentment is relentless and the only way to get through it is with compassion and forgiveness.
William Ward once said, “Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the handcuffs of hate.” It’s important to remind ourselves that people usually do things for themselves and not against others. When we have been wronged or taken advantage of, it is more than likely a result of fears, pain or insecurities of the perpetrator, but when we lay blame it keeps us a victim. The baggage weighs us down and empowers others to control and impede our lives.
The remedy is simple, but not always easy. Our pain is real and it won’t just magically dissolve. We have to make a choice to let it go, to forgive others and even more importantly, to forgive ourselves. Forgiveness is a process and it takes courage and strength to implement. It’s not just saying the words, it’s living them. When we truly forgive, we drain our souls of a cancer and allow love to grow in its place. Letting go of past bruises heals our heart and frees the bonds that trap us in pain. When we forgive, we release a heavy weight that frees our spirit with a renewed sense of peace and contentment.
Keep in mind that Life is now. Our past is merely a stockpile of old memories and we put so much significance into them, we can limit ourselves and our future. It is impossible to grasp the future when we are holding onto the past. Don’t loose sight that it is the journey, not the destination that is our existence and every day matters. Life is too short to waste even one day living in anger and resentment. The choices we make and how we touch the lives of others not only determines who we are, but how we live. Live your life to the fullest!
Casi