Casting Light Into Darkness
Below is an article I wrote many moons ago, but with all the darkness in the world right now I thought it was relevant to repost…
In light of the outbreak of violence in Ukraine, Venezuela, and so many other places where war is an ongoing event, I wanted to share a note that questions how one can forgive such violent acts. Robert, a young man from Nigeria, wrote to me in December of 2011 asking: “Can those who lost their family members on Christmas day via bomb blast in a Catholic Church, be able to forgive?”
My response to Robert was: “What happened on Christmas day at the Catholic churches in Abuja and Jos was tragic beyond belief. How can an act that left more than forty people dead be justified, excused, pardoned, or understood? Unspeakable acts of violence can never be understood as they are beyond comprehension. Individuals who carry them out are without conscience and are acting out of fear, hatred, and violence they have become accustomed to and is all that they know. Forgiveness isn’t about turning the other cheek, letting someone off the hook, condoning or pardoning the wrongful act in any way. When you apply forgiveness, you disallow the act to destroy you too. People who harbor hatred and vengeance towards those who harm others might as well hand over their own life, for unresolved anger creates wounds that fester and will eventually destroy them. Those whose innocent lives were taken didn’t have a choice whether to live or die. However, by not forgiving, a part of us dies inside every day and it is like we are giving them our life as well, contributing to the death toll. A life lived in hatred and anger is not living at all, it is an existence in suffering. “Forgive them for they know not what they do,” is what comes to mind here. My heart and prayers go out to all those who lost loved ones. If you know anyone involved with this tragedy who could use my help to forgive, please have them contact me. Thank you for reaching out for help and understanding. God bless you.”
I am sharing my response above so others who live in war-torn countries or where acts of violence occur can understand the importance of applying forgiveness, sooner as opposed to later. We cannot change what has happened, we can only decide how much further damage to allow within our own hearts and minds. Unresolved anger, rage, and other emotions associated with violence and abuse create extremely toxic chemicals inside our bodies. Unless there is forgiveness, the violence lives on within us and can lead to chronic or terminal disease.
We must come to understand that every thought is like a prayer. Our thoughts bring into our life and our world what we think about most. If we focus on rage and vengeance we are inviting more acts of violence into our world. The world cannot afford any more hate so we must choose love as our only prayer.
Peace begins with you and me. Do not underestimate the role you play in co-creating a peaceful world. It is the personal responsibility of each one of us to put all blame, anger, and hatred aside for it is the only way our world will ever achieve peace and begin to heal. It isn’t time that heals wounds. Only forgiveness and love will.
When humanity understands the tremendous power we possess in choosing to join our hearts in LOVE, we will cast out the darkness of the world as we unite to become ONE Heart, ONE World, ONE FAMILY.
God Bless You, Yours, and OUR WORLD.
