The best magazine
Consider the following story, which illustrates how carrying anger is like carrying baggage.
It can become heavy.
It can weigh us down and make us downright miserable.
Two monks were walking through the woods.
One was older and the mentor of the other.
The path ended at a river, where they met a woman who needed help crossing.
Without hesitation, the older monk picked her up and began carrying her to the far side.
Upon reaching it, the woman continued on her way, and the monks stopped to sleep.
After resuming their walk the next morning, the older monk strolled along - smiling, enjoying the cool breeze, sounds of nature, and God's presence.
The younger monk, on the other hand, was drudging along, consumed with worry.
The older monk asked his friend what was wrong.
The younger man said he'd been anguishing all night because his training as a monk suggested that he shouldn't touch a woman.
Yet, he had observed his mentor, not only touch, but hold and carry a woman! On hearing his concern, the older monk compassionately said, "My dear young brother, you have such heavy thoughts.
I set her down on the other side of the river hours ago.
Why in the world are you still carrying her?" This story reminds me how our anger from past experiences is like a burden.
When we carry anger, we're unable to experience God's presence and peace.
Only when the burden of anger is set down, can God's peace be experienced.
One way to set down the burden of anger is to forgive other people.
I learned about the power of forgiveness after being shot in a robbery in 1988.
Initially, my anger left me obsessed with wanting to catch the robber and beat him with a bat.
My ideas about forgiveness were - "It's UNREASONABLE! The robber needs to pay for what he did.
If I forgive him, I'll be doing him a favor; I'll be saying that what he did to me is okay; I'll be inviting people to walk all over me.
" If that take on forgiveness sounds familiar, no wonder we have such a hard time forgiving people.
To open ourselves to forgiveness as God's anger management tool, our perspective about what forgiveness is and what is required to forgive...
must change.
So, what is forgiveness? Let's begin answering that by discussing what forgiveness ISN'T.
Forgiveness is not a feeling.
Forgiveness is not anger control.
Forgiveness is not about condoning irresponsible or hurtful behavior.
Forgiveness is not about superficially turning the other cheek and still feeling victimized.
Forgiveness is not about forgetting...
Forgiveness is about remembering with peace; completing old business from the past to live more fully in the present.
Forgiveness is a choice - to stop treating people like they owe you something.
Forgiveness is freedom from the struggle of being wrapped up in the past - like a net that traps you from moving forward.
Forgiveness is a gift from God, so you can experience more happiness and peace.
Since God IS love, where love is, God is.
When we dwell in love, we dwell in God.
Forgiveness is an expression of love, unconditional love - loving without conditions - regardless of how another's actions have angered or hurt us.
As a result, forgiveness may seem impossible; however, if we want to experience God's Peace, that which is beyond our own understanding, we must love this way.
We must forgive.
Most people don't forgive for one of two reasons.
One, they don't want to forgive; unfortunately, if that's the case, the burden of anger will remain and God's presence won't be realized as much as is possible.
The second reason people don't forgive is because they don't know how; they think they have to figure it all out on their own.
Not wanting to forgive is one thing; Not knowing how to forgive is another thing altogether.
Forgiveness, God's anger management tool, is not that complicated.
What is required to forgive for good and become free from your past? Well, you don't need to know how.
The only requirements are: 1.
Having a heartfelt desire to forgive 2.
Sincerely asking for God's help in the process With your desire to forgive and request for help to do so, God's Grace makes it happen.
Source: ...