Forgiveness, Truth, and Looking For a Sign

" In the end, I've come to believe in something I call "The Physics of the Quest." A force in nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity. The rule of Quest Physics goes something like this: If you're brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you. " ~ Liz Gilbert

Though the quote above seems more like the perfect "New Year's Resolution," it sort of rang true for the Christmas season. 

There is something incredibly therapeutic about the night before Christmas. For those of us who are Christians, our "Savior," the one we have waited for, is finally born. What is more inspiring than a new birth? A clean slate, a new beginning. That's sort of what we will all experience tonight. Peace on our little slab of Earth, even if it just within the walls of your home, or if your home is in an uproar, maybe you can close your eyes and find peace within. But it's there - yours for the taking.

Christ represents a purification of our spirits. We are told that if we believe in him, we will have everlasting life. That is the ultimate forgiveness. If God can forgive me, why can't I forgive myself.. for all of the mistakes I have made, for all of the hurt I have caused, and more importantly, how I have hurt myself by not releasing any guilt or anger I have held onto for so long. 

Christ represents the ultimate truth. Regardless of whether you believe he is the Son of God, or rose from the dead, the truth is, he taught us to love one another, above all else. If we all just treated each other with respect and showed loving kindness and compassion, there would be the ultimate peace on Earth - thus.. the Ultimate Truth. 

And finally, the Wise Men, who were thought to be three Kings from the Orient, traveled across the desert, following the Star of David (the sign,) to find the Christ child. Perhaps we should see Christmas the same way, a time to search for the signs that God gently reveals, if we dare stop to look and listen.

I hope this Christmas night (regardless of your belief system or faith,) will seek to forgive, look for your personal truth, and continue to quiet your mind and allow your "sign" to be revealed.  

Friendship & Forgiveness ~ a healthy choice

How many times have you heard someone say, "I am just going to cut her out of my life?" Or perhaps you have said, "I would never do that to someone else. I don't need them in my life!"

I know I have.

I used to be the queen of completely cutting someone out of my life if I felt they had "wronged" me. To be perfectly honest, it wasn't very difficult to do this "wrong" to me either. I was hyper-critical of others around me, yet somehow those same standards I held up to others were never applied to me. Luckily, I have outgrown that behavior, however I do see it happening to so many others around me.

I guess what I would ask each of you - Is it worth it to cut out a friendship because your feelings are hurt? Shouldn't we all attempt to nurture our relationships and implement forgiveness?

I saw this fantastic video about friendship and forgiveness and had to share it with you:


How many times have you heard people say, "I don't care." Just like in the video, I agree that when you say, "I don't care," the truth is.. you really do.

I would love to hear about your "moving on" and forgiveness stories with friends. Feel free to write about it and ad a link in the comment section or just tell us there.

As for me, I have learned forgiveness. I am practicing it and I think I am better off for it. ;-)

REWIND - Forgiveness

Here's another edition of "REWIND" - Forgiveness was the topic. Enjoy this post written about well over a year ago!

I am reading this book - again. The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris.

It basically involves a married, Presbyterian woman who decides to spend about 3 years living in a catholic, Benedictine monastery for inspiration for her poetry.

Weird, I know.

But it spoke to me.

If you did not know, one of my "gotta do some day" items was to spend a weekend on a retreat at a monastery. Which, BTW, I did last May. May 8th to be exact.

I did a little research on apparently Alabama is a "hot bed" of catholic goodies. I really was just looking for an experience. I found that a little town north of Birmingham has just what I was looking for. A Benedictine Monastery - St. Benard's Abbey.

I actually went. Seriously. I checked myself into a monastery just to experience what it is like to be "God focused" for an entire weekend.

I never really wrote about my experience. I talked it up before I went - but truly never shared what happened.

First of all, it totally threw me for a loop. I am not going to lie.

The grounds were simply magnificent. In a "english countryside" sort of way. It was quiet, the buildings old.. the wind was blowing just right - the entire "scene" of it all was perfect.

The rooms, as you can imagine are very sparse. You take a vow of poverty. I had a very uncomfortable bed with an old blanket and the world's biggest crucifix above my head. There was a simple folder on the bed with a schedule of prayer times, etc. No one greeted me upon arrival - my name was on a bulletin board with a room assignment. The door was unlocked.

Dinner was taken in silence with one monk reading from the bible. Breakfast in complete silence. Then lunch was more communal.

I went to mass every single time it was offered. I went hiking across the grounds. I went to the Ave Maria shrine (a trippy-mind experience all in and of itself.) I sat in a gazebo reading and actually ended up taking a nap. I went and pet the horses. I sat at the pond just contemplating life.

What I learned?? I am a social creature by nature. The Benedictine life is a HARD one to follow.

Most of the experience was emotional - and for me, I tend to state the facts. I am comfortable with sharing anger, but never much more. ;-)

Taking all of this back to the book I am reading - there is one line Kathleen mentioned. It's simple. I know it to be true, heard it a million times - but it was to "Forgive Daily."

That's a tough one. But you know what - it spoke to me.

I know the last two posts have been cryptic and I am clearly venting about someone or something. I appreciate your silence in responding to this. It was me venting, but not being able to lay it all out there on the line.

I woke up - and I forgive.

What I would like to leave you with is a few videos and pictures from my trip to the Abby. Perhaps you can pull some inspiration from the pictures and "feel" the silence. Visual images always speak volumes to me. Perhaps .. since I clearly am having trouble putting my thoughts into words (or rather the experience) - maybe I can tell the story and my feelings through the following items.

Many Blessings to you!

This one is not one of mine - but it shows the video of St. Benard's during mass! (I did not take video during mass - I thought it would be rude!)



Here is a video that someone put together of the Ave Maria Grotto.. better than what I had!

Forgiveness

"I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one." ~Henry Ward Beecher

I am trying out this concept of true forgiveness... and I have to say, it feels nice.
In our society, it really does not make a lot of sense to most people - to take something/someone and totally wipe the slate clean after pain or heartache was experienced. We are a vengeful sort, always thinking of ways to "get back" at others, or cutting them out completely.

I read a quote yesterday that struck me so hard. It was by Ian Percy and it said, "We judge others by their behavior. We judge ourselves by our intentions." How completely true is this statement? How is it that I expect all of my sins to be forgiven and wiped clean, when I cannot do the same for another.

Plus, who is to say one person's transgressions are any worse than another? Pain is pain. Deceit is Deceit. Anger is anger. What ever form it comes in, it always leaves a horrible after taste.

When you choose (and the key word is choose) to wipe the slate clean and adjust your thinking - changes will come, almost magically.

I choose to feel joy. I choose passion. I choose adventure. I choose beauty. I choose truth. I choose companionship. I choose love.

All of those choices have both pros and cons. There is no rule written for the universe that would say that any of these paths would be easy. To understand joy, I must experience sadness. To feel passion, I must feel apathy. To handle adventure, I must see boredom. To witness beauty, I must be exposed to ugly. If I am to live in truth, I must feel the pain of a lie. If I want to feel the security of a companion, I must feel what it means to truly live alone. And if I am to experience the ultimate gift of all - love.. then I must be exposed to hatred, anger, and isolation.

Holding another hostage to your scars is not fair. The only freedom one will ever experience is one where pure acceptance and a clean slate is provided. To get there, one must hit bottom and rise to the top.. and to rise by choice.

Yes, I am practicing forgiveness.

Forgive Daily

I am reading this book - again. The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris.

It basically involves a married, Presbyterian woman who decides to spend about 3 years living in a catholic, Benedictine monastery for inspiration for her poetry.

Weird, I know.

But it spoke to me.

If you did not know, one of my "gotta do some day" items was to spend a weekend on a retreat at a monastery. Which, BTW, I did last May. May 8th to be exact.

I did a little research on apparently Alabama is a "hot bed" of catholic goodies. I really was just looking for an experience. I found that a little town north of Birmingham has just what I was looking for. A Benedictine Monastery - St. Benard's Abbey.

I actually went. Seriously. I checked myself into a monastery just to experience what it is like to be "God focused" for an entire weekend.

I never really wrote about my experience. I talked it up before I went - but truly never shared what happened.

First of all, it totally threw me for a loop. I am not going to lie.

The grounds were simply magnificent. In a "english countryside" sort of way. It was quiet, the buildings old.. the wind was blowing just right - the entire "scene" of it all was perfect.

The rooms, as you can imagine are very sparse. You take a vow of poverty. I had a very uncomfortable bed with an old blanket and the world's biggest crucifix above my head. There was a simple folder on the bed with a schedule of prayer times, etc. No one greeted me upon arrival - my name was on a bulletin board with a room assignment. The door was unlocked.

Dinner was taken in silence with one monk reading from the bible. Breakfast in complete silence. Then lunch was more communal.

I went to mass every single time it was offered. I went hiking across the grounds. I went to the Ave Maria shrine (a trippy-mind experience all in and of itself.) I sat in a gazebo reading and actually ended up taking a nap. I went and pet the horses. I sat at the pond just contemplating life.

What I learned?? I am a social creature by nature. The Benedictine life is a HARD one to follow.

Most of the experience was emotional - and for me, I tend to state the facts. I am comfortable with sharing anger, but never much more. ;-)

Taking all of this back to the book I am reading - there is one line Kathleen mentioned. It's simple. I know it to be true, heard it a million times - but it was to "Forgive Daily."

That's a tough one. But you know what - it spoke to me.

I know the last two posts have been cryptic and I am clearly venting about someone or something. I appreciate your silence in responding to this. It was me venting, but not being able to lay it all out there on the line.

I woke up - and I forgive.

What I would like to leave you with is a few videos and pictures from my trip to the Abby. Perhaps you can pull some inspiration from the pictures and "feel" the silence. Visual images always speak volumes to me. Perhaps .. since I clearly am having trouble putting my thoughts into words (or rather the experience) - maybe I can tell the story and my feelings through the following items.

Many Blessings to you!

This one is not one of mine - but it shows the video of St. Benard's during mass! (I did not take video during mass - I thought it would be rude!)



Here is a video that someone put together of the Ave Maria Grotto.. better than what I had!