Wisdom from The Journey – Forgive Yourself. Forgive Others

This evening, I am remembering where I was, four years ago, as I started a 52 week journey that changed my life, and that continues to bless me.

The first week, I was at the 6pm service at Trinity United Church of Christ, in Chicago. The 6pm service is going on now – and due to the fact that I live in Chi-beria, I’m not venturing out. I thought I would lean on #15 of The 52 Things I learned from My 52 Weeks of Worship and catch the service online, but the service was cancelled due to weather. I don’t blame them. It is snowing like crazy outside, and the temperature is plunging.

So, instead of experiencing the 6pm service at Trinity as I did the first week of 2010,I  am posting here, and beginning what I hope to be a 52 weeks re-membering the wisdom that I learned from 61 different churches, mosques, synagogues, and gathering places from the South Side of Chicago to South Africa.

On the dedication page of my book is a quote, that resonates with me a great deal today – as it did when I decided to include it when the book was going into publication.

The quote, attributed to Oprah Winfrey, says:

“Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could
have been any different.”

Where can forgiveness serve you in your life? Who do you  need to forgive? For what do you need to forgive yourself?

Did you unintentionally hurt someone you loved?
Did you break a promise to yourself? To someone else?
Did you disappoint someone you care about? Did you disappoint yourself?
Did someone hurt you? Did you hurt someone?
Did you say something that you didn’t mean to say? Do something you didn’t mean to do?
Do you need to let something go? To start doing something?
Does something in your life seem damaged beyond repair? A friendship? A relationship?
Did you blow that second chance…and now need another one?
Did you do promise yourself you would never do something again…and then you did it?

What is it that is on your mind? Where can forgiveness heal? What load are you carrying that you need to put down?

Tonight, on this snowy Chicago night, I am contemplating forgiveness.