It seems to me that there have been a lot of people in the world of sports to forgive lately–Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz (possibly), Michael Vick, Rick Pitino just off the top of my head. Joe Posnanski writes in a Sports Illustrated website article “ It’s time to forgive Pete Rose for his sins against baseball.”
Why is it so important that we forgive those who have wronged us and to apologize to those whom we’ve hurt?
Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be
pardoned when you pray.
Sirach 28:2
One reason to forgive others is that most of us are looking for forgiveness after we’ve done something wrong. When I’ve wronged others, I’ve decided to institute the “do unto others” principle and apologize. I don’t control whether or not people will accept the apology but, I do control whether or not I offer it. Whenever I apologize, I feel better. Even if the apology was not accepted. Did you ever try asking someone for forgiveness and have them refuse? I have.
Maybe people like holding on to their anger because of what Ghandi said: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” I liked that quote so much that I turned it into an affirmation: “I am a strong individual who easily and happily forgives others.”
On the path to becoming enlightened, the Buddhists implement a strategy to free themselves from what they call “afflictive emotions” — anger, hatred, desire, jealousy, etc. There are great meditations that allow us to promote happiness, peace and freedom from suffering for ourselves and others. When our minds are full of happiness and peaceful thoughts (Spirit), we don’t allow much room for negativity, anger and resentment. It’s so much easier to forgive others when we’re feeling good about ourselves.
I listened to Deepak Chopra’s “Secrets of Enlightenment” CD at the gym this morning for the first time. Boy did he pack a lot of information into 60 minutes! One of his comments that I really enjoyed is “When we’re in the state of Love, it’s impossible to hurt or be hurt.” Meditate on that thought for a while! Can you imagine and visualize being so full of Love that you’re incapable of hurting others or being hurt by someone else?
Lewis B. Smedes tells us that “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” When we’re holding on to a hurt feeling that’s been caused by someone else, we’re the ones who are suffering. When we’ve hurt another person and don’t apologize, we just don’t feel right. Once we say those magical words, “I apologize” or “I forgive you”, that huge weight is lifted from our shoulders and souls.
Does a man harbor anger against another, and yet seek for healing from the Lord?
Sirach 28:3
Have you ever tried asking forgiveness from another person or from God when in the back of your mind you remember that you have not forgiven someone else? Now that’s not going to work out real well is it?
Because I’m looking to forgive myself and to be forgiven by God and others, I’ve decided to become God-like when it comes to forgiveness.
Forgive others when they’ve offended you. Apologize to people at the first sign that you “might have” possibly hurt them. You’ll feel better and so will they.
Who are the people whom you should forgive today? Who are the people who are waiting for an apology from you? Give them a call or go and visit them.
I agree with Joe Posnanski. Let’s forgive Pete Rose.
I say goodbye to you today with a laugh from Oscar Wilde: “Always forgive your enemies- nothing annoys them so much.”
