Foregiveness

Forgiveness is a path to godliness. To forgive us, to be like God, we've all endured suffering, carrying fear, guilt, and shame. The memories of universal wrongs can trigger thoughts of revenge. But at Calvary, Christ forgave us, calling us ignorant of our actions, even pleading for our forgiveness. I have a dear friend who was brutally attacked by a coworker for an unknown reason. Thankfully, the colleagues intervened, rescuing him physically. But as emotional wounds still fester, the person who attacked him is now deceased, buried nearby. I asked if he had forgiven his attacker. His response was an emphatic no. His words revealed a well of fear, hate, and distrust towards the deceased assailant. He felt unable to forgive, seeing it as the only way to win. I even suggested he visit the man's grave, perhaps as a cathartic release, but the answer remained a no. He couldn't find closure, still haunted by the past, losing more than moments in pain; he lost years of feeling insecure. This struggle is universal. We often claim to hate to shield our guilt, fear, and shame. I've heard countless stories of people holding on to traumatic events, some suffering from sexual or verbal abuse or, even worse, violence if you dare to open the dark door and find the light of forgiveness, a path to freedom and abundance, marked with a sign in blood. Decades ago, I met a man who had many reasons to harbor fear and hate but declared, "Hate and become like the one you hate. Love and be like God." I have observed this; he was right, perhaps not 100%, but the odds favor his wisdom. Movies often reinforce this idea, showing that hating someone can turn you into an image of that person. I'm convinced that if I cling to hate, I perpetuate it. If I hold on to fear, I nurture that fear. But if I choose love and forgiveness, that erases guilt, fear, and shame. Jesus believed in the power of forgiveness, teaching it to his disciples in the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Forgiveness isn't easy. To truly forgive, you must reconcile with God for creating you and with yourself for harboring hatred. Throughout it all, remember you are living in forgiveness. In matters of the heart, transformation begins with forgiveness.