YouTube: The Essence of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is widely recognized as one of the highest expressions of moral character. Many people, particularly those with strong religious convictions, regard the act of forgiving others as not only virtuous but also spiritually meaningful. They believe that showing forgiveness to someone who has caused harm brings about a favorable response from God, helping them maintain their spiritual well-being and moral integrity.
However, genuine forgiveness does not alter God’s behavior. Instead, it liberates us, allowing us to align with the expansive activity of God. Emilie Cady observed that difficulties in life may stem from an inability to forgive. By continually dwelling on the negative actions of others, we may unintentionally hinder our own progress.
Why does this happen? If God’s nature is defined by creative expansion, then holding onto resentment restricts our own creative thinking. Our mental and emotional resources become channeled into a narrow focus, acting like an invisible burden that weighs us down and limits our potential.
It is important to recognize that the actions of others have less influence on our quality of life than our own reactions to what they say or do. Forgiveness is essentially the process of reframing these reactions. For example, when Joseph reunited with his brothers who had sold him into slavery, he acknowledged that they intended harm, but he chose to believe God meant it for good. By reframing their actions, Joseph created an opportunity to release himself from the destructive reaction of resentment.
What Joseph’s brothers did was wrong and he had every right to be angry at them. This resentment, however, may have prevented him from rising to his present position of power, second only to Egypt’s Pharaoh, according to the story. Throughout all his many trials, Joseph maintained his creative agility, turning each worse-case scenario into opportunities for advancement.
If you find yourself holding resentment for the past actions of another, do not seek to condone or condemn them. Seek, rather, the higher ground of release. Affirm that greater good is now unfolding through you and through all concerned. Even if they meant it for evil, God means it for good. Hold to this truth and free yourself from the bonds of resentment.
J Douglas Bottorff 