Energy is a limited resource in our world. You can be sure that energy is a limited resource in your life. Common sense says that one should use energy wisely. So I have a question for you: How much of your daily allotment of energy do you use in harboring grudges, bitterness, or resentment? Another way to asking the question is how forgiving are you?
The mind does not help us in our battle of forgiveness. There is a part of your brain that has more memory space than you want. Your brain remembers hurts that happened to you that you can even access. It can find you though. This part of the brain has no time mechanism. If something looks similar to past hurts, it sends you a random memory message. This part of the memory system tells you that everyone is out to get you. It screams to you that you cannot trust people. However this part of the brain can be silenced--if you choose. But it must be an act of your will. It will not happen without your will.
There is another part of your brain that is very much attuned to time. It is the part of your brain that sees you as you are today. This thought process knows that people can only hurt you as much as you let them. This part of the brain is able to distinguish between friend and foe. This part of the brain wants you to experience love instead of bitterness and pain. It screams for you to "think new thoughts!" and "risk being who you are today!" This part of the brain invites you think differently and once you think differently you will act differently. Once you act differently you will begin to feel differently.
Forgiveness is when you choose to think differently It is not about forgetting. It is about choose to think differently and invest your limited amount of energy into spaces and places where there is wholeness and love. It begins when you can wish others well who have harmed you. It begins when you stop your thought processes that are filled with hurt and revenge. It begins when you realize that it is silly and useless to keep "walking a dead dog!" (one of my favorite lines!!!)
Jesus made an interesting connection in the Lord's Prayer about forgiveness. The prayer says, "forgive me my trespasses AS I forgive those who trespass against me." Jesus wanted us to understand that as we experience God's forgiveness (which is so vast and loving), we can then pass that forgiveness to others (which is comparatively small to ours!). When we are honest with ourselves, we know how bad we are!!! And yet, God forgives us!
So the key is to practice forgiveness! Practice the thought process. Abandon the "dead dogs" that we keep dragging around behind us. Heal the open wounds. And experience the good stuff of life!
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
www.stlukesimpson.org
www.midweekmanna.com
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