On Forgiveness
Alicia K. Hanlen, Practitioner Emeritus
Taos Study Group – Mile High Church
We must walk through the muddy shoals of hatred and anger and make our way through grief and loss to find the acceptance that is the hallmark of forgiveness. – Desmond Tutu
Oftentimes in this chaotic world in which we live, I find myself angry – at people, governments, events. Maybe even God. And when those feelings threaten to overpower, I turn to prayer:
Infinite Divine Life, that Presence that never leaves me, even if at times I don’t recognize it. I turn to that Presence now, embracing the feeling of wholeness and peace that it evokes. I know for myself and anyone hearing or reading these words that It is imperative for our own well being that we turn away from anger and hatred, and seek the sweet essence of the energy of Love. I allow anything that is unlike that Love Energy to simply and totally slip away, and return to its native nothingness. That space that once held anger or hate, now is filled instead with compassion. First I accept the compassion for myself, and my temporary dance with my lesser emotions. I forgive my perceived need for revenge, or the distraction of my cruel thoughts and words. I allow the grace of God to wash over me, cleansing me of any and all impurities, as the light pours over me an reflects back to me my innate wholeness. And then I forgive any person, government or event that I believed to have committed an inexcusable act of some sort. My forgiveness of others is not really necessary for them, but rather for me, as I can only control my own thoughts, feelings, words, and deeds. So I simply surrender the idea of wrongdoing, and accept that everything is in divine right order. Sometimes that is easier said than done, and yet I persist in knowing that in the unlimited potentiality of Spirit, all things are possible. In that sweet surrender, I embrace acceptance, both for myself and for all concerned. Grateful for these divine ideas, I release these words into the immutable Law. And so it is.