I was trying to peruse this forum to see if any here had started a thread about the tragic killings at the Amish school this fall.

If such a thread is already here, and I just did not find it, and someone wants to publish the link to it for me, I would appreciate that.

Or if even now we could discuss what everyone thought, not of the crime itself, but of what the media had reported about the Amish statement of forgiving the man that murdered their family members.

Would others here weigh in with some thoughts on what forgiveness is and what we are required to do in light of a Divine Mandate to forgive those who wrong us?

Thanks,

OD

I watched that segment you're talking about. If there are any people on this planet who are almost perfect, it's the Amish. Remarkable.

I was amazed at the forgivness the Amish showed to that killer. Apart of me wished I could do the same, if in the same situation. Another part of me wanted to see that SOB hang. But yea, amazing people, amazing grace.

I am not sure about forgiveness.

I don't really understand how come it seems that so many admire it when someone bestows forgiveness on another, and yet on a worldwide scale, the same people that admire forgiveness, look for retaliation through war.

Forgiveness is something I think God has been teaching me about some for at least six years now.

Personally I have had a few very huge things to practice forgiveness in. Initially, I am sure that speaking forgiveness carried me, my own words did not allow me to consider any alternative. But then I hit a brick wall emotionally. I did not allow myself to take the time to express the anger, the loss, and all the thoughts that the human soul does realize when traumatized.

Was it forgiveness when I first confessed it as such, or was it only truly forgiveness after I owned up to my own anger and negative feelings and worked through them?

These are just a few disjunctive thoughts on forgiveness. I find it an intriguing topic and one I want to realize more about.

OD

Good post. Biblicaly we are to forgive, cause of the forgivness God has shown to us. Basicaly we have no right to hold hate against someone. But I believe to honestly forgive, goes completely against human nature. Therefore I believe the bible when it says forgiveness is divine. Meaning it doesnt come from you, but the ability comes from God.

I understand where your coming from though. I to have thought I have forgiven certain things, only to later find that I had not. I can only ask the Lord to try me, to identify the things that are against his will inside of me, and to remove them from me. To me I cant do it. Only he can. I spend alot of time in my heart on this.

Forgiveness is not something you do for the other person. It's something you do for yourself. To judge, to condemn, to hang onto anger, and so on... in my opinion, this is not forgiveness. We are given ample smaller opportunities to practice forgiveness: the driver who cuts you off in traffic, the person who cuts ahead of you in line, the person who bumps into you on a crowded street, the person who is late for a meeting.. the list is endless.

Forgiveness allows you to open your heart to let Love's Light in so it can shine out to others.

When someone asks what there is to do, (Like This)
light the candle in his hand.

Like this.
~~Rumi

Yes you have it brother. You only hurt yourself by Holding on to anger. You choose to dwell in darkness. You choose to keep the will of God out of your life. Its for you and only you.

Yes JayD and Chris!

I think what I realized was that though I was stating forgiveness and even conducting myself in forgiveness, the Lord wanted to show me it is He alone who can forgive.

And that was initially all I could pray in honesty when I hit the brakes. I could say, "Lord, it is your right and your will to forgive. " If you can use me to show that forgiveness, then do not let the overwhelming anguish and sense of injustice consume me, but rather let your love consume me, so that nothing else is left but your love."

I know I am not all the way there yet though in knowing all His love consuming everything else I am. I walk it out with many stumbles and sways.

Thanks for sharing. Chris, you are so much light on this forum.

You too JayD.

OH DEAR

I find taking a few deep breaths helps me handle my anger and choose a more loving response in these smaller forgiveness opportunities. I learned this from Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, through one of his many books. In fact, it was Thich Nhat Hanh who, after 9/11, reminded me that Jesus' last words as he was dying on the cross were "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."

(Making a joyfull noise) To me, this is the best thing that can happen to a person. A light has been shown to you, and you take it as the truth. There is nothing more powerfull than that. Cause when you being to realize these things THAT is when God can begin to use you. Praise The Lord of host, for rarely do I see such things.