JUNE: Forgive and Forget or Forgive and Remember?

FORGIVE AND FORGET

OR

FORGIVE AND REMEMBER? 😊

Gandhi said,

“The problem with humanity is that it is not in its right mind.”

Hello dear friends,

I do hope you are well.  As we welcome our present summer solstice, we can celebrate the blessings of at last joining together once again, yet knowing that we have always been together, just as now when we come into the space of our sacred silence.

Recently, I raised the question, how do we heal from a wrong-minded experience of a world of duality (a place of love and insanity) toward a non-dualistic experience of right-mindedness, which is to see only love, as we become more peaceful?  Healing requires that we experience our Real Self. Let’s take a closer look at that. 

The Course tells us that forgiveness is a necessary correction.  To offer forgiveness is the only way for us to have it.  Giving and receiving are the same.  Forgiveness is the means by which we will remember who we are.  Through forgiveness, the thinking of the world is reversed.  Acknowledging Christ in our brothers, we recognize His presence in ourselves.

Finding lasting peace is a daily process of letting go of our blocks of guilt and continuous unconditional forgiving. The practice of forgiveness of others undoes guilt by realizing the guilt is actually in our own mind.  So, when we surrender our guilt to the Holy Spirit, He takes it from us.  Then we can experience ourselves as we truly are—an innocent son of God.

“Suddenly, I saw that not forgiving him was a form of self-abuse?  It was as though I wanted to prolong my own suffering by reliving the experiences with him over and over again.   Not forgiving someone was the equivalent of taking arsenic and then expecting the other person to die.”

(TGIC p. 347) – LINK TO TGIC

The ego’s velvet hammer is guilt.  When we are in our wrong mind and judging, we are simply looking for a place to dump our guilt!  Since we are all one, our thoughts are going to no one but—you guessed it—ourself.  So, while self-righteous thinking may feel good for a while, like a boomerang, the guilt always comes back to haunt us.  A Course in Miracles does not require that we have no thoughts that are not pure, but it does require that you have none that you would keep.

So, you may be thinking, sure—but this is easier said than done. I agree.  Because our learning usually takes place in levels, like climbing a ladder, seeing the problem in stages can be helpful.  Here are some examples of processing we often discussed in my ACIM class that might work for you when you find yourself feeling unfairly treated.

POSSIBLE STEPS IN FORGIVENESS

Step 1   See a void, a space, instead of judgment . . . inviting the Holy Spirit to come in.  Make room for the miracle.

Step 2   Forgiveness is required so I can be free.  I forgive you so I can set myself free.  Release it to Spirit and just let Him work it out.

Step 3   I forgive you because at some level I understand you.  I put myself in your shoes.  At some level, I feel your pain, and fear.

EXAMPLES OF WHY THIS IS NOT  THE FINAL STEP

a.)  Second guessing the reasons why the driver of the car that just cut you off in traffic had to be in a hurry.  This is conditional and assumes that if there wasn’t a good reason, they would be guilty.  Let it go.

b.)   I’ll forgive because:  I’ve done worse myself.  This is taking the role of the martyr.  This is silent proof of guilt.  It makes guilt real.  Let it go.

c.)  I’ll forgive you because:  If you can meet my needs (promise me to . . .) then I can see my way to forgive you.  This is saying your slavery is my release—but you are the slave—trying to get rid of the guilt.  Now forgiveness has become fearful.  Let it go.

d.)   I’ll forgive because:  I’ll be the better person.  I’ll be gracious and “stoop” to the lesser person.  How can we look at another in sin and still see them as a child of God?  This is lordliness, arrogance.  Let it go.

THE FINAL STEP:

As the Course teaches:  I forgive you for what never occurred.  Forgiveness does NOT pardon sins and make them real.  Forgiveness recognizes that there was no sin, and it is all part of our collective insane dream.  We forgive our brothers and sisters and are thus forgiving ourselves at the same time—because we are all One Mind. Forgiveness is only understood when happiness is truly sought.  

“This looking without judgment, in gentle laughter, is the meaning of forgiveness . . . we become trained over time to hear the Holy Spirit’s Voice, learning that all things are opportunities to learn forgiveness.”

(ACIM W-pI.193)

How long would you still hold on to your judgmental thoughts if you knew that that right now you are loved for being you, whole, happy, innocent—a divine part of God?  Would it mean as much?  Then would you be able to turn the situation over now instead of sometime tomorrow or next week or next month?

How does anyone get to Carnegie Hall? PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. 😊

So, until next time,

When you find yourself staring into the headlights of fear, I hope you can stop . . .  allow yourself to laugh at your temporary insanity . . .  and say, as I often do, THANK GOD I’M CRAZY! 😊

***** SEE ONLY LOVE FOR THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE *****

Thank God I’m Crazy available in paperback and e-book on:

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Thank God I’m Crazy includes pictures of places which took place in Grace’s life, as seen in her visions. Grace Avalon, teacher and intuitive counselor, has taught A Course in Miracles for nine years. She gives presentations, seminars and workshops for anyone whose known abuse, thought they were crazy, or wants to live a joyful life.

*** Marianne Williamson, (NY Times bestselling author, teacher, and internationally renowned speaker) , has said, “Grace Avalon inspires all of us to trust the wisdom of our hearts.  Here is spirituality in practice.” ***