The FORGIVENESS FACTOR- 1
In life we grow through many stages – baby, toddler, child, youngster (pre-teen), teen, young adult, adult. We also learn how to relate, how to live with others and how to communicate, listen, appreciate, discern, love; and on the negative side, rebel, hurt, speak evil of, judge, accuse, blame, hate.
Many of us have baggage that we have been carrying for most if not all of our lives. While we don’t acknowledge much of it, until a problem arises, baggage still affects our lives, and in many instances, determines how well or how little we will live our lives. Most of this baggage is in our sub-conscious thoughts, feelings, visions/images/pictures/vain imaginations. Got it?
One of the most devastating pieces of baggage is unforgiveness. It adds bitterness, resentment, arrogance, meanness, spitefulness, victimness [my word, meaning one’s acceptance of their life as a victim], and hatred. Unforgiveness roots deep and has many sprouts of bondage, captive human nature.
Wars, shootings, most acts of unbelievable (but now acceptable as part of our society) violence – these are all results of deep seeded unforgiveness.
Taken out of context, the term discipline can be used to cover up brutal, physical harm and it was for this reason that ‘violence’ became a focus in family issues. Imbalance of any kind brings about confusion and irrationality, and in a society that has grown to respect its ability to fairly deal with all issues, imbalance became an accepted ‘way’ of dealing with issues that required balance, at least.
With a desire to stop unnecessary violence, physical discipline (and emotional) has been forced out of homes. Rather than curbing violence, this ‘new way’ has paved a way for violence to grow under all kind of banners, the least of which is pleasure. Gangs rule, violence is becoming a way for younger and younger people to behave – in other words, we have enslaved our future generations to self-centered meanness and desires = hopelessness. And isn’t it funny that when physical discipline was removed, violence grew? Go figure.
Talk about imbalance. (And to think that unforgiveness paved the way). Look closely at the decisions made regarding home life, the bringing up of children, and you will find unforgiveness, judgment, blame, and attempts at shifting guilt from one’s own conscience to the plate of people caught in the ‘new way’ of growing children up.
At any rate, it is hard to forgive. In fact, without focus and determination, one will turn away from it, in our society. There are societies where forgiveness is taught as a way of life, and it does reduce violence, and develop character.
Which brings me to the point of this section. If you are not taught about forgiveness early in your life (beginning with baby-hood or maybe even during pregnancy), you will be captive to the systems that pop up in your lives. As in the movie The Matrix ©, the point is made of the ‘machines’, ‘computerized programs’ being the ones holding people captive; which equals = da' system.
Very good point, however, in our lives now, it is the various, invisible systems of labor, religion, education, culture and communities that captivate. Perhaps as a model for the soon coming machines – just joking.
Generally speaking, For-give-ness is giving release to someone for what they have done (or you believe they have done) to you. Mostly this is pain oriented. There are times when it is mental and emotionally painful, and none is worse or better. Pain is the place where you can gain through learning and growing; or become captive – become a slave held in bondage.
Choice is ours. Yep, ours!