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Since our human family is in
the learning process (learning
how to apply our spiritual
potential humanly), which
includes some mistakes and
"failures", and "sins", it
becomes clear that forgiveness
and the doctrine of the Second
Chance is very necessary.
Jesus' definition of
forgiveness is 70 x 7, which must
mean that we never stop banking
on the "real" of every person
because God is the "real" we all
share.
This is perhaps a rather
obligue introduction to some
ideas I have been wanting for
some time to put down in writing.
I have always thought about this
in terms of "before" and
"after."
"Before" a human being makes
the first mistake, he is loved,
accepted, and trusted; he may
have a good self-image. "After"
his indiscretion all of this may
be lost, and, as in the case of
Cain, he may be a marked man.
Tribal warfare, hostilities
between ethnic, religious, and
national groups, such as in the
case of the people of Palestine
and Israel, may continue on and
on because there is no
forgiveness.
The "before" and "after"
analysis deals with the common
human condition. It is obvious
that no group of human beings has
been successful in teaching "the
way of life" to its children so
that they will never "sin." After
any of us make any kind of
mistake, it is then necessary for
us to seek the knowledge, the
consciousness or understanding,
that will help us not to make the
same mistake.
Here is where the problem is
posed. Instead of perceiving the
"sinner" as bad, untrustworthy,
if we are able to forgive, to
understand, and to help him
become aware of what he needs to
know so that he will not repeat
the error, he has a chance to
make the correction.
But you and I know that such
changes are not usually made from
one lesson. How long it may take
any of us to rise out of the
"tainted" condition obviously
depends on the quality of the
teaching, the sincerity and
warmth of the love and
forgiveness (which really is
understanding).
It actually is possible for a
person to shed the shame and
guilt and self-doubt if he
becomes deeply aware of the love
and understanding and support he
is receiving. The "after" period
can be like a miracle, and this
specific lesson may be
well-learned.
Of course there will be
mistakes in other areas of life
necessitating more forgiveness
and help.
I'm describing the process we
human beings are going through.
What is the point I am
making?
I have stated the way out of
our human predicament. What you
and I need to become conscious of
at a very deep and real level is
that we personally may not be
practicing either
self-forgiveness nor the
forgiveness of others. Church
people sometimes do not practice
what the church really stands
for. Why not? We need to take a
look at this, don't we?
It may be that we don't know
how.
To begin with - when any of us
commit an indiscretion or think
we have failed, we usually are
disappointed with ourself. We
believe that others don't like us
and that we no longer qualify for
acceptance in our family, work,
or social groups.
This is indeed the beginning
of the problem for everybody
because, if we treat ourselves
this way, it is sure we will
treat others this way. Since the
human family has written and
unwritten laws and rules and
customs and traditions that must
be pretty strictly adhered to,
all of us tend to look down on
ourself or anyone else who has
disobeyed. I don't want to tell
you my own story, but I found
myself doing the same thing I
looked down on another man for
doing. You may have had a similar
experience.
The television news story
about the Amish people forgiving
the murderer of their children
and inviting his widow into
reconciliation also states that
they shun defectors from their
community. They need to think
about that, but what do you and I
need to think about?!
So where does the solution
begin?
Obviously if enough
individuals come through and
really practice the teaching we
are all aware of, eventually our
whole human family will become a
society in which we are basking
in the love and security that
emanate from freeing ourselves
and others into the Second
Chance, the forgiveness that is
70 x 7 .
What a wonderful world !
Don
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