Forgiveness For The Sake Of Our Own Freedom
“Do I need a safe space where I can begin to let go of that which is poisonous within me – because of what I have done, because of what was done to me, because of what I failed to do? Do I need to begin a journey of forgiveness for the sake of my own freedom?”
— Father Michael Lapsley, Institute for the Healing of Memories
Father Lapsley is a great inspiration in the area of forgiveness. Active in the civil and social rights movement in South Africa during apartheid, Father Lapsley received a letter bomb that blew off his hands, nearly blinded him and impaired his hearing. He continues his work in South Africa, teaching people to release their personal and collective pain and come into forgiveness for the “sake of our own freedom”.
In South Africa, the work of his organization is the closest I found to my work in the United States. I had the honor of meeting Father Lapsley during a visit to Capetown in 2007. He has truly deepened his own spiritual process through what he has received in this life, and he readily shares it with others.
I give thanks for the blessing of knowing that Father Lapsley is here on Earth, generously giving what he knows to be true. There are many inspiring people quietly living their lives for the benefit of all of us. Father Lapsley is one. Support his work:Institute for the Healing of Memories
When one is wronged, this does not affect the soul. It is the ego that feels the hurt, and the reaction is to retaliate. This exacerbates the hurt. We can either choose to carry that anger and bitterness within us, which will affect our physical and mental health, or for our own freedom, relinquish the desire for retaliation by way of forgiveness. There can be no true forgiveness without forgetfulness. Only the strong can forgive.
Comment by randall butisingh — January 12, 2008 @ 10:39 am