Forgive yourself back to Freedom
The gift of Forgiveness is like an open hand palm that is constantly extended out Now, so that you can leave in it whatever you carried for so long (yes that same story, that same worry, that same thing that only weighs heavier the longer you seem to run away from it). And it’s always available Here at hand.
In truth, it’s not that I as a person, have the authority to say “Okay, I forgive you.” It’s more like a deeper understanding that arises from within you, from Love, from His Presence and you begin to understand that when people are hurt, they may unconsciously project that hurt outwardly, but in truth you know it is Love disguised as fear. This is where compassion arises and the invitation to act differently follows.
When you see and understand that things could not have unfolded any other way, a spaciousness within you begins to open, and within that space comes acceptance with a peaceful forgiveness that arises naturally. Herein lies the possibility for real transformation.
Real forgiveness comes from a deeper well of understanding that in truth there is nothing to forgive because there is no identification with “the forgiver”, as this identity is built on past and future, but in this Presence, all vanishes and all is forgiven.
The first human impulse is often to react, to seek revenge, to defend, to pay back and this reaction may still come up, I am not saying it is easy, it requieres some practice. I had some encounters recently and could feel the tension rising in me, but at the same time being aware of His guidance, His Presence beneath the appearance, beneath the tension.
It’s like He is whispering: deep down you know that this battle will lead you nowhere so there’s no need to amor up in the first place, Love already won this. And in that moment you stop resisting what is happening and become aware of what already needs to happen, a moment unfolding as it is.
If we don’t forgive, this cocktail of emotions gradually builds into resentment. Over time, it can create subtle new pathways and behaviours in our system and shape the way we are, experience reality and how we behave. It becomes a heavy weight to carry, and in the end, we are the ones who suffer from it.
A little personal story:
I remember the first time I came across (ACIM) A Course in Miracles and I decided to do a healing session, and when the woman looked into my eyes, she asked me, “You know that the person you think is your worst enemy is not, right? You know who you really need to forgive.”
And a well of tears started flowing. I needed to forgive myself.
Ultimately, this comes with a deeper understanding that we all operate from the level of consciousness we have at any given time. And when we recognise that we did wrong or acted below our best, forgiveness is already available as we grow in awareness. It is all because of His mercy and His grace. Jesus paid this debt 2,000 years ago, and we don’t need to carry it into His new creation Now.
Forgive quickly, keep moving and growing in Love.
Bible verses reflecting on forgiveness & judgment:
John 8:7
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone”.
Matthew 7:3-5
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”.
Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”.
Luke 6:37
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven”.
“God can save the sinner you are, but not the saint you pretend to be.”
– Anthony Bloom
A Prayer for Forgiveness:
Father, I bow before You with humility and gratitude for the mercy You continually offer me. Help me to forgive as You do, and shape my heart into an instrument of compassion and mercy, so that You may work through me and teach me the way of a Christ-like heart.
In Jesus’ name
AMEN.
