Thoughts on Peace: Why Bother? (Part V)

Forgive, Forgive, Forgive

There are answers to the question of why bother seeking peace, but they are not about bringing world peace. In other words, it’s not about achieving universal disarmament and creating a worldwide “touchy feeling goodness” moment. The answers come from within, mind by mind, heart by heart, as we learn and express forgiveness. This does not mean forgive and forget, but forgive, even with the remembrances. Forgive, with full awareness of what has happened, for in that choice, the past is actually passed, which allows peace to become present.

It is common to see forgiveness as the “perceptual benefit” we extend to someone else, others who, in some way, have done us wrong, or caused harm to us. Overlooked but equally important, if not more so, is the forgiveness we must give to our self for the part we played in facilitating the experience in the first place. After all, the experience, including the injury, resentment, anger, and whatever other residue we’re still choosing to carry, is ours.

Most people don’t want to acknowledge that they had anything to do with undesirable events or experiences that have “happened” to them. Sometimes they wear their position as a badge of distinction. It becomes their “story,” which can be quite seductive of they happen upon other who will give them sympathy. A distinction it is. However, it is typically a distinction of fear, sadness, powerlessness, limitation, and dis-ease.

Although we may give the impression to the contrary, no one really feels good trying to make negative situations seem plausible or even desirable, and yet, many of us do. Furthermore, some folk will try to project guilt upon anyone who would challenge the reasonableness of their position, or offer mitigating alternatives. Reasonable or not, a victim role is not a peaceful one. It is not a joyful or harmonious one. It is not a self-loving or forgiving one. If we do not love or forgive our self, we cannot demonstrate love to another, for we will not be accepting of love from within.

Forgiveness can release pent up hostilities that we have long buried below the surface of conscious memory, and under that, we can activate the power and willingness to establish new patterns of behavior, new ways of seeing and experiencing reality. When we exercise our power to forgive, we give ourselves the power to love once again, for our heart will once again be open to love, which can then flow through us.

Each person that “gets” what I’m suggesting here and decides to forgive one’s self for the fearful, guilt-ridden, or unfortunate events they have given life to — and the many experiences that have evolved from that fear –affects an immediate change. Each one begins changing the landscape of his or her own life, like an artist who applies new paint to a canvas in response to a new and inspired vision of possibility.

As each of us brings the importance of forgiveness to mind, and embraces it with our heart, we will touch others without needing to “do” anything other than be our loving self. The ripple effect of such choosing will spread; perhaps slowly at first, but surely.

Imagine when the head of state of a major nation decides to be forgiving, and acknowledge the harm that his nation has contributed to by its leadership’s own aggressive policies. Imagine the collective sigh of relief that will be felt around the world as leaders of other nations see that this nation’s head is finally coming from a mind that has had its fearful lens removed.

Being forgiving or fearless doesn’t mean an end to vigilance, but it is tempered by circumspection. A forgiving leader understands that vengeance does as much harm to the vengeful as it does the object of his wrath, and does little to solve the problem that caused conflict to boil over in the first place.

Forgiveness will become a new model for leadership, which gives peace a chance as “consciences” gain a rare opportunity to be cleared, as grace is given and received. One-by-one, mind-by-mind, heart-by-heart.

Why bother seeking peace? Because it is realizable, even in our time. I say this with such confidence because each of us can exercise forgiveness and embrace peace in our lifetime, irrespective of what anyone else does. Yet, as more people practice forgiveness; not for a day, but as a way of life; not for one particular thing, but for everything, the world itself will change, for it will have been changed by the only ones who can make it happen; you and me.

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