Yesterday was Good Friday, a day we Christians remember the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. His death and resurrection was a gift of forgiveness of our sins. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us.
Forgiveness is not easy.
As I pondered the Good Friday message, I realized that I need to give forgiveness to others. It really hit me that there are four aspects to forgiveness. First of all, I recognize and acknowledge that I need forgiveness for my "sins," including my omissions of trust, respect and love. But the path to the point of giving forgiveness also means that secondly, I have to want forgiveness. I think most people recognize that they need forgiveness. Many people, including myself, acknowledge that need but are often unlikely to admit that we want forgiveness. We may beat ourselves up because we are such sinful people to "need forgiveness." That we turn away from the gift of forgiveness...."I don't want forgiveness!" Let me sit in my pity pot and continue to exclaim what a sinful person I am. Therefore, you can not love me!
Wanting is a desire. If I desire forgiveness and then accept it, then I know that I will change. Do I really want to change? If I do need and want forgiveness, then the next step is accepting forgiveness. Again, if I accept this gift, I will need to step out of my pity pot and change my actions. Hmmm?
No matter what anyone says, if you accept a "gift" from anyone, you are connected with that person/being. Independent Rayna being connected to anyone, what's my world coming to? If I am able to follow through on this forgiveness journey, then I know that I will next be able to offer forgiveness to others. Again, that will mean connecting with others.
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Love, Forgiveness & Happiness
Hubby and I just finished watching a movie, "Into the Wild." Knowing my wanderlust spirit, hubby agreed to watch it with me. It's a story about a young man that "disappears" after his college graduation to explore the world and more specifically go into the wilds of Alaska. It's a very thought-provoking movie, to say the least!
I have had my own adventure, back in 1980. I saved my money and earned extra money by being a waitress. I "rented" out my belongings to family so that I could retrieve them when I returned. The return date of which I was unsure. I visited some friends in Minnesota and family in Missouri and then headed by myself into the unknown. The states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada rolled under my wheels. I had an idea that I wanted to go to one of the two C states - California or Colorado. In Las Vegas, I decided to go towards Colorado by way of Utah. The trip was one of the highlights of my life and I was reminded of it while watching this movie.
The young man in the movie was bound and determined to abandon his family and even changed his name to avoid being found. But at the end of the movie, he has the profound realization that "happiness is real when shared." It's true in many ways. I have all these memories of my adventure, yet I can never say to someone else, "Remember when I was riding in a car with two guys from the campground and I thought it might be the end of the road for me?" I have shared in this blog about my fight or flight tendencies. I guess I may never flee again without taking someone with me, it's more fun to share. Like Thelma & Louise, huh?
Another quote from the movie was, "To forgive is to love and to love is to feel the light of God." To harbor resentments and anger is so darkening to the soul. It's so close-minded. To forgive, we truly open ourselves up to love and light. Who wouldn't want that? Yes, we may want that, but too often the motivation to keep in the dark with our anger and resentments are more powerful than the opportunity for light and love. As I said yesterday, I have to ask, "what is it worth to me?"
I have had my own adventure, back in 1980. I saved my money and earned extra money by being a waitress. I "rented" out my belongings to family so that I could retrieve them when I returned. The return date of which I was unsure. I visited some friends in Minnesota and family in Missouri and then headed by myself into the unknown. The states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada rolled under my wheels. I had an idea that I wanted to go to one of the two C states - California or Colorado. In Las Vegas, I decided to go towards Colorado by way of Utah. The trip was one of the highlights of my life and I was reminded of it while watching this movie.
The young man in the movie was bound and determined to abandon his family and even changed his name to avoid being found. But at the end of the movie, he has the profound realization that "happiness is real when shared." It's true in many ways. I have all these memories of my adventure, yet I can never say to someone else, "Remember when I was riding in a car with two guys from the campground and I thought it might be the end of the road for me?" I have shared in this blog about my fight or flight tendencies. I guess I may never flee again without taking someone with me, it's more fun to share. Like Thelma & Louise, huh?
Another quote from the movie was, "To forgive is to love and to love is to feel the light of God." To harbor resentments and anger is so darkening to the soul. It's so close-minded. To forgive, we truly open ourselves up to love and light. Who wouldn't want that? Yes, we may want that, but too often the motivation to keep in the dark with our anger and resentments are more powerful than the opportunity for light and love. As I said yesterday, I have to ask, "what is it worth to me?"
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