Forgiveness is the key to happiness.

5-1-2024

“The unforgiving mind … offers love no room to be itself.”

My ‘River of Love’ metaphor has been assisting me regularly this week. Am I in the flow or blocking the flow? The ‘unforgiving mind’ is when the flow is being blocked. This means that the forgiving mind is happily floating along in the flow of the river of God’s Love.

In this world we think of forgiveness as reconciliation with another person so it makes it difficult for may to move into forgiveness. The phrase ‘forgive and forget’ is the culprit. For man to remain safe, it is best that they keep their distance and not reconcile. But forgiveness is work within; changing one’s perception to knowing that God’s Love is within the ‘bothersome’ ones as well. Forgiveness heals ourselves. It is choosing to set back into the river and float, letting go, feeling happy as Love’s presence shines within us again.

5-1-2023

“The unforgiving mind is full of fear, and offers Love no room to be itself; no place where it can spread its wings in peace and soar above the turmoil of the world.”

I made a change yesterday whereby Love has more room to fly within me. The words of the lesson sunk in more deeply than expected. I changed my mind, so I appreciate the invitation offered today.

Also, yesterday we learned of a family friend who lost a loved one to suicide. The pain described in the lesson, attributed to the unforgiving mind, I sense is what drives a person to kill themselves.

I forgave myself. I let go of the past that is no more.

“Perhaps you can look at this world in transition and dare to echo God in Genesis [1:31]: behold, it is good … it is very good. Perhaps you can see transition as an essential part of that goodness that is better than perfection.” ~ Brian McLaren, CAC Daily Meditation, 5-1-2023

5-1-2022

“Forgiveness is acquired.”

This is a shock to learn. I guess this goes back to us all being innocent, light and love, as God created us.

“A sin is an idea you taught yourself, forgiveness must be learned by you as well.”

So, I can’t do this on my own. I see Christ Jesus as the bringer of this lesson to the western world (perhaps the whole world, IDK). Those who dove deep into his teachings, the Way, gained knowledge. My church taught ‘turn the other cheek’, but I can see how this added to the culture of suffering. Our catechism did not go far enough to achieve this, and it wasn’t exemplified in the hierarchy.

The lesson’s practice asks us to see the light in our enemies—this is even a further reach.

Forgiveness requires teachers. This explains why the Course includes a manual for teachers.

Once we know forgiveness, do we then default to being teachers to others?

[Yes … by your actions you will be known as followers of Christ.] _/\_

I made a promise to God. I’m here, ready to learn of forgiveness.

[] denotes answer from HS.