Wow! It looks like much of Minnesota is heading back into Winter. Some parts of the Twin Cities got as much as eight and a half inches of snow. It won't last long with highs in the forties. We saw a few flakes yesterday Morning; so few, one could count them as they came down. Wintry conditions are supposed to continue through the week and perhaps the rest of the month.
I titled this post FORGIVENESS II because I am sure there was one titled forgiveness, before. I didn't want to search through all 518 posts to determine that. I know I have written about forgiveness before, since it is the single most important aspect of our condition in this illusion. Lack of forgiveness is what keeps us stuck in this illusion.
All our grievances, large and small, keep us from 'seeing'. They keep us from knowing our oneness. We can't imagine being one with someone we hold a grudge against. Our illusion, is made up of the distorted perceptions, created by our fears. Forgiveness is key to changing this.
Our lack of forgiveness acts as a screen or block to the intensity of the love we can experience. We cannot fully receive love when we lack forgiveness of ourselves and we cannot fully give love as we hold unto our grievances.
Our refusal to forgive can have major or minor consequences, depending on the issue and the level of rage [or fear] that it might hide. It can be minor, like the other day I was feeling kind of blah and I realized I was irritated with a family member [for something rather inconsequential] but never the less I was holding unto a grievance. On realizing this, I quickly forgave them, and then talked to them; not to tell them of my irritation, that was not necessary and probably counterproductive, but to connect with them and feel our togetherness. It was like walking out of the shade into the Sunshine. I would be happy to satisfy the curious about what I was irritated about, but believe me, it was that minor. I don't remember. In our day to day relationships we can hold and horde grievances about the most mundane things. Who left the mayonnaise out of the fridge? Who made this mess in the sink? How come nobody can throw their dirty clothes in the hamper? How come I always end up picking things up around here? How come you are such a slob? The possibility for these minor grievances are endless. The solution is to correct what can be corrected and accept what cannot. Accept each other, flaws and all, and forgive, forgive, forgive. Let us not store up grievances.
The situations that have more major consequences, are cases where someone has abused us or were very disloyal. Situation where we were very hurt or mortified. In these situations we may feel justification in not forgiving, as if our forgiveness will somehow excuse their behavior. We, also, might be intimidated by the rage we feel underneath the hurt. We might feel we cannot forgive without first unleashing the rage. Again, and to some extent this is always true, we may feel we are truly unlovable and we deserved what we got, refusing to forgive, keeps a scab over the fear we are unlovable. Refusing to forgive, in these heavier situations, has life time consequences i.e. chronic depression.
We can know, that forgiveness is to free us from the drama, and is not for the perpetrator. Of course when we are forgiven by another we are freed from the condemnation of another mind, but the benefit to the forgiver is many times greater than the benefit to the forgiven.
Some of us find that forgiveness is an incremental process. We first accept the necessity of doing it; we say the words in our mind. We are sincere, it is not just words. Still it is like peeling away the layers of an onion. The issue keeps coming back to our minds until it finally fades away after many acts of forgiveness.
Others hang unto their grievance with main force until it builds up so much pressure it burst. Forgiveness, then is a great relief. It is final and over. Although, folks tend to be predominately one way or the other. We may be incremental in our forgiveness about somethings and sudden and final forgivers in other situations.
Forgiveness is an eye opener and love giver. It makes it possible for us to see past the illusion. As always, we must begin with ourselves. We must forgive ourselves. We must give up all the grievances we have stored up against ourselves. Know that it is preposterous to judge ourselves. Our extension of forgiveness to others will be partial until we forgive ourselves. Let us take time to sit in the quiet everyday, close our eyes, and imagine ourselves in the Light of Source. Feel the love wash us clean.
One day we will wake up and see a Forgiven World.
Love and Peace, Gregg
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