FORGIVE (2006)
My mentor Bishop Sandra Adler of the Peace Community Church International stated, “Since there is no right and wrong, we never make mistakes. We always do our best at any given time. Therefore, we need to come to terms with our concept of sin and redemption: there is no sin, and therefore no necessity of redemption. God is always with us and loves us because each of us is a part of God – made in his image and likeness. The loving, caring, sharing part of us is the Christ consciousness. This is what we spend our lifetime becoming.”
For some time I have been learning about the concept of forgiveness: how it relates to love of myself and others.
In August, 2005, I wrote that “the most important act in my life today is to forgive myself. I become more loving of myself and others when I forgive. I will have a healthier mind and body when I forgive. I am able to grow more by being able to forgive myself and others.”
When I wrote the preceding, my state of consciousness was
of a sufferer. My pain because of my inability to forgive myself and
others was so great I wished I were dead. I recognized that to forgive
myself and others would give a great healing to me and others.
If I have injured another, it would bother me; therefore I must learn to forgive and forget. Despite all my protestations otherwise, my self-control is limited.
It would be helpful to me to more thoroughly develop a personality where I can examine myself objectively and realize the percent my actions were governed by the actions or reactions of someone or something else. Perhaps by having a sense of mental myopia I can more easily view myself objectively.
I chose this lifetime, with all its occurrences, even though everything can be substantially related to a power outside myself. Spirit, in s/he/its striving for universal recognition of the human condition, sometimes causes disasters to occur, which in some way or another may affect my life. In my limited wisdom and ability to be aware of the totality of existence, I may erroneously conclude that spirit is wrong. This would be presumptuous, of placing myself in a position greater than the totality of spirit. Yet, the “force,” God, can actually work positively for me, if I maintain as best as I can a positive attitude about life and living. (See, for example, “The Secret,” another link on my website.)
Usually I would be embittered if I did an act requiring forgiveness. However,
I have found an effective way to accept the past is to forgive myself and send positive energy (the loving, caring, sharing part of me) to the injured party. I can do this best by overcoming the emotion of guilt caused by my offense.
The test of sanity is the amount of self-control a person can exercise when he appears to be under attack. My guidance has informed me that my level of self-control is sufficient for myself and others if I continue to maintain my level of trust and forgiveness.
If a victim desires revenge, it may be irrelevant to him/her whether the perpetrator suffers because of his acts. Therefore, the perpetrator is needlessly hurting himself when he beats himself up because he did not respect another’s rights. He did the best he could at that time. Of course, this does not mean the perpetrator will escape retribution. He may still have to make peace with the victim.
Many times has Francisco Coll, the founder of the Inner Peace Movement, stated that “There are no mistakes, just learning experiences.” I recognize that when I forgive myself and others, I can more easily see the good in myself and others. I am able to sponsor myself more.
Since God is referred to as the All which includes myself and others, I am more able to be at peace with myself. By forgiving myself, I’m automatically able to stay cleansed and reduce my anxiety.
Having substantially forgiven myself, I am more able to share. I am again able to become a mentor for others.
Perhaps because of my increased ability to forgive myself, I have been given the opportunity to work with Judge Keith J. Leenhouts, the founder of “Volunteers in Probation.” Judge Leenhouts recognizes that jailing an offender usually makes him worse (see my link, “Prevention of Crime”). Judge Leenhouts has shown that selfless love is the greatest healer. By working with him I am recognizing my own good qualities, able to heal myself, and therefore able to be of greater service to myself and others.
By accepting my limitations, I am more comfortable and relaxed in all situations and have greater ability to avoid offending myself and others. By looking upon myself with a non-judgmental and accepting attitude, I’m gaining peace of mind and a forgiving spirit.
David C. Hakim
Rochester, Michigan
December 1-3, 2006
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