Comments on: Why Forgive?

By: Ana

Ana — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:21:35 +0000

Hi Lorna,
Thanks so much for writing. For some strange reason, your comment never showed up on my screen until today, even though you wrote it ages ago! God works in mysterious ways!

My experience with forgiveness is that it is indeed a bridge from God to human beings, one that comes through divine mercy for us, who need it desperately. I feel that true freedom cannot be experienced without each of us taking the initiative to get on the bridge and start walking. We will find that the Holy Spirit (or whatever we choose to call the link between us and our Creator) is already with us, by our side, ready to show us the way across. This is the incredible blessing available to every one of us, as soon as we ask for it.

Personally, I don’t use the term sin. I find that notions of sin imply a broken, guilty soul, which I don’t see as the truth. A Course in Miracles, which is an important guide for me, tells us that we are all eternally innocent and constantly free. And while that is true in the deepest sense, what’s also true is that we’ve often lost our way here on Earth. We need to take responsibility for our actions, repair our errors and reconcile with one another as well as reach to the forgiveness that God offers us. If we already knew we are free, we wouldn’t need forgiveness at all!

For more articles and thoughts about forgiveness and peace-making, please go to my website at http://www.anaholub.com. Thanks for the great work you do and for being a part of this conversation!

By: Lorna

Lorna — Mon, 02 May 2011 23:54:59 +0000

Hi Ana,
Thank you for sharing you story. I am a counselor and forgiveness is a huge part of the healing journey clients go through in their walk toward healing. The freedom it can give people is life changing.
I am wondering about the source of forgiveness as you see it. I believe the source of forgiveness begins when evil came into this world when people sinned. God in his desire to have a relationship with the people he had created made a way that the relationship could continue. Because God is without sin, in order for people to have a relationship with him there needed to be a way to close the chasm that was created by the sin. This could only be brought to fruition through the sacrifice of someone without sin. That is why God sent Jesus, his son (himself in human form) to be sacrificed as an atonement for the sins of all people. That is where forgiveness began and through that we can all experience ultimate forgiveness when we accept the atonement he gave us on the cross and his resurrection that brought eternal life. We can have eternal life because the chasm sin created is closed when we accept what Jesus did for us.
Of course, forgiveness can be experienced between people and it brings amazing freedom. When I work with clients it is their choice what they believe. I never push my personal believes on them. Forgiveness is one of the most important aspects of healing for anyone.
Thank you for the work you do. We need more people who help others move toward healing by sharing their own stories so the hurting can see real life examples of how they themselves can move toward healing.
Lorna

By: Skip Andrew

Skip Andrew — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 08:49:13 +0000

Oh my! What pain in the very core of your life as you knew it then, and what a huge risk in transparently allowing us now to see, feel, and hear your vulnerability in this story — a story that can inspire so many others to step into the abyss and gift of Radical Forgiveness.

I feel blessed that our lives have connected and that you walk the path you talk.

Thank you, dear One!

By: Lynda Zehsazian

Lynda Zehsazian — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:20:47 +0000

Words fail me, or I fail them. The familiar words of sympathy become false in the face of your experience you share with us. I have often wondered at the purpose of so much pain, but through your sharing this with us all, I glimpse a reason, or a fruit, from pain. Your pain propelled you to seek knowledge. Your search shows a light, a path to us, a healing way, a beauty way, the forgiveness way.

By: Marguerite Ogle

Marguerite Ogle — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 03:03:39 +0000

Ana,
I am so very moved that you chose to share this story. Thank you. It seems like the true completion of a cycle – to share the pain and the gifts of what you have been through, and learned, with others. Bodhisattva bravery! I know your sharing will help many others feel more confident that they can survive letting go into their scary places.
Namaste,
Marguerite

By: peter van dyk

peter van dyk — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:14:44 +0000

Dear Ana,

Thank You for this share, the honesty, wisdom and the courage it takes to be ”transparent ” is a true blessing, the work You have done to be clear and centered is very apparent, your opening creates and allows others [ like me ] to take off the veils we, [ I] have been wearing for so long, we think sometimes that the veils that conceal, also protect, when in truth they just get in the way and create separation and fear…….the field You create when You trust the edges are friendly,travel throughtout the universe, saying Yes, yes, join me in this exploration, join me in this freedom……..may the love that is waiting for us allways wash over You now and may You know deep appreciation , in humble solidarity, and peacePeter

By: peter van dyk

peter van dyk — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:21:11 +0000

Hi,

thank You for your wisdom, honesty, and your courage at being so open and raw….whenever one of us, humans, goes on a journey of self discovery, we are all better off…… the obvious work You have done on being ”transparent ” creates a field of safety for all of us to pull back the veils that we are wearing to conceal, and protect parts of ourselves that we think need hiding and protecting, Truth be known we really have nothing to hide or protect……….. in admiration. and with solidarity, and humility I join You in this journey, may the love that is always present wash over You now , blessings, and love peacePeter