Forgiveness

Forgiveness

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to discover that the prisoner was you.” -Lewes B. Smedes

“Resentment is like drinking poison then hoping it will kill your enemies.” – Nelson Mandela

“Forgiveness is choosing to love. It is the first skill of self-giving love.” – Mahatma Ghandi

“Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is
saved from being lost again.” – Saint Augustine

This is a lovely week in Oxford. It has been windy and from the window in my study I watch the clouds move creating a variety of skies- grey, sunny, downy white floating by on a beautiful blue canvas. People ask me if I like living in England. I do. That is a simple answer with many reasons to support it. It is a difference experience to be the outlier. People are quick to share experiences of travel in the U.S. and ask questions. I’m the one with the funny accent! My travels around England and France have given me a new perspective on the history of the two world wars and the sacrifice people made to protect democracy- a precious gift. A couple days after moving here I realized that I had nothing to do; very different from my life at home. After I got over the initial panic and surrendered to the “being“ of my situation I settled into my own reflection and meditation. And this time has been the inspiration for my blogs.

The next step in self-compassion is practicing forgiveness: self- forgiveness and forgiveness for others. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we erase an event. It doesn’t mean that we deny the pain. It means that we look with discernment and release the judgment and emotion to that which we have attached. The act of forgiving opens space for love, joy and abundance. When I walked Omaha Beach I felt the tremendous loss of all the soldiers and civilians. Forgiveness
does not mean forget. We remember the past and the lessons of the past. And then we release and forgive and move forward in love. Forgiving is a personal choice. It is an act of freeing ourselves from that which keeps us stuck.
Ask yourself,“ What did I learn?” “ What do I know?”. All that we experience is meant to teach and to promote not to cripple us. And then practice forgiveness. It will set you free.

When I began this blog it was sunny; now it is cloudy and raining. Change is the nature of our
existence.
Sending with Blessings,
Camille