Forgiveness - Sunday Inspirtuition
At my Unity congregation, we are currently doing a study group on the Course In Miracles. This curriculum has been something I’ve wanted to pursue for a long time, but as is usual in my life, when I’m truly ready, the opportunity just shows up, and all I have to do is say “yes.”
So it is with the Course in Miracles. Years ago a friend gifted me with the book for the Course, and it has been in plastic on my bookshelf for quite a long time. The Course In Miracles is a commitment. I was always a bit intimidated by it — embarking on it is analogous to reading the Bible - takes a year, some willingness and determination, perseverance, and is best done with the support of a group. I’ve taken a few runs at reading the Bible, bought different versions, picked it up, put it down …. I’m a spiritualist, not a religious person, and have really looked for excuses to avoid the reading the Bible as I’ve often associated it with religion rather than spirituality.
One of the areas I’ve wrestled with in my faith for a long time is how to reconcile my spiritual truths and conceptions of God and the Universe with traditional religion. I’ve prayed about this and let it go, knowing eventually with continued work and growth the answer would come.
The Course in Miracles seems to build that bridge for me — it is lovely work, very holy, and provides a path for me to reconcile my faith to the more traditional religious path — actually, it is the reverse — it takes the traditional interpretations and reconciles them to a higher spiritual context based on joy and love, rather than fear and guilt.
Today our group leader gave me a quote on forgiveness - which is the essence of moving beyond the past and its bondage to a future of love and hope. Forgiveness releases us, and we become free. God resides in each one of us. When we relate to each other in that way, recognizing the Divinity each of us carries and looking for the similarities rather than the differences, true friendships and restored relationships are possible.
Here’s the quote:
“The Christ in me forgives the Christ in you. The Christ in you forgives the Christ in me. The Christ consciousness is the healing, forgiving power between us. All that is between us is cleared up now and forever. I loose and let you go. You loose and let me go. I am free and you are free.”
The beauty of this is that it does not require that the object of our forgiveness agrees. Often they are not even aware we have undertaken to free them and ourselves from resentment and hurt. The key, the tool required, to be set free from the power of the past is in our hands and hearts. It’s inside each of us (this is what is meant by the Christ within) as part of our divine nature. It is the love which is the true nature of our spiritual essence. All we need do is use it. Love. (No liking required!) Let go. Live and let live.
Every Sunday I call a particularly difficult relative of mine. She is elderly and at this time in our relationship I feel responsible to be of service to her by calling her each week so she feels connected and loved. I have struggled for many years to release her with forgiveness. Some days are better than others. But the persistent application of relating to her as another child of God, on her own path, and forgiving her by understanding her as a teacher/student relationship in my life, has removed the power of old hurts and fears. All that is needed is a little forgiveness. It’s free, always available, and it always works. Every time.
