Saturday, October 14, 2006

Forgiveness ~ the final lesson for humanity

Brew of the day: Pear & Nutmeg Tea


There are some, many, who think that the ‘real’ world with all its violence, drudgery, deceit, sensationalism, modern gadgets, is where we all need to live (especially for the sake of our children, lest they ‘miss’ out on something). These same people believe that those of us who revere a world where love, simplicity, manners, kindness, family values, respect etc., are important are somehow in a dysfunctional La-La Land, and ought to get a ‘grip’.


Two weeks ago there was ‘another’ mass shooting in an American school. It is always tragic when such events occur. And yet, for me, somehow this seemed even more painful. Those whose lives were touched were from the Amish Community. They live peacefully, away from modern life, honouring the divine in themselves and those around them.


I first heard about the Amish twenty years ago, when visiting my best friend Amy who lived in Pennsylvania. Entranced by the simplicity of their lifestyle, their deliberately gentle ways never left my mind.


What has struck me most about this shooting is the complete forgiveness coming from all those families whose children were killed, as well as the Amish Community in general. Some of them even attended the funeral of the murderer so they could offer support to his family. How many people in our *civilised* culture would do that?


It occurred to me, that perhaps, this tragedy was ordained in a way that our human thinking can’t imagine. These people have shown us what we all need to learn, embrace and practise each day of our lives. Forgiveness. For GIVE ness.


I know, for me, it isn’t always an easy practice if I’ve felt wounded by another’s arrow. Yet if the Amish can forgive, literally within hours, something so horrendous, heartbreaking and senseless as the shooting of their beautiful, innocent children, then what excuse have you or I to hold grudges about pissy little things? None.


Probably the greatest deterrent to becoming a race who can forgive is our immersion in the ‘real world’. Little secret here: this world isn’t REAL. It’s all an illusion. When we get so caught up in needing to be someone, have something (car, house, career) and filling in every waking hour with ‘stuff’ or noise, we lose all sense of Who We Really Are; of our divine origins. If, in essence, we’re all One, then how can we hate our ‘syster’ without hating ourselves?


Our attachment to the illusion which is modern life is the very thing that hinders our innate ability to remain in tune with the Divine. Forgiveness is the only thing which can set us free from our pain.


Forgiveness of others and, just as importantly, forgiveness of ourselves is the only path to spiritual freedom.

4 comments:

jood said...

thanks for sharing that...the amish are truely a great example to us all.
love and light
jood

rawraw2 said...

I just wanted to say I love reading your blog. I have read for months now. It is so nice to read about other parents who think and put their children first. Even though you are in another country it is nice to know of other parents who are not part of the mainstream machine.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.

Babywearing Sales & Consulting said...

I hear what you are saying and that was my first thought too. But what about another possibility - maybe not the Amish but maybe others - maybe they are so detached from their children that the loss doesn't cut to the core in the same way it might for you or I? I have to wonder because I am stunned that they could be able to attend the funeral. I am all for forgiveness, don't get me wrong, but this seems too soon. We are humans having a human experience so let's have it, not get so terribly evolved that we become robots.

Unknown said...

Time is a man made concept...why can't forgiveness be instant?

Afterall, there is ONLY the Holy Instant (according to A Course in Miracles).

Do you truly believe that it is because they were detached from their kids that they were able to forgive? Seems incredibly cynical to me. Each to his own though :-))

When we are fully aligned to our spiritual self we are able to see the big circle of life and death in a different way than when we are completely submerged by common culture.

Detachment from modern life doesn't me we don't love our kids with a passion...I suspect we probably end up loving everyone unconditionally rather than the way most of us *love*.

*****

all comments are moderated now..which means they have to come via my inbox...some of you have questioned why your comments haven't appeared...if they're not here it is either because they didn't get to me, or you wrote something that was totally inappropriate to the nature of this blog or it was a direct attack on me.

I have no problem with people having a different opinion and posting such comments. This is completely different however than when someone with no knowledge of birth psychology or how children learn best, chooses to use this public space to attack me. I suggest such people use their time elsewhere :-)
Veronika