Lifes can be change with simple act of Forgiveness On Forgiveness

People all over the world are hurting to one dgree or another, What if lives could be changed and improved through the simple act of forgiveness.

Press Release, Opinion
Jay North
Independent Writer
Opinion, for immediate release
27/July/03

Jaynorthis1@aol.com

Dear Editor,

When we look around the world today we find much needless suffering. The causes are indeed vast. People everywhere are hurt, lonely, depressed, dehydrated and starving. Some just starving for a simple hug. There is an idea that through the act of forgiveness peoples lives could be somehow changed and improved. While this may be a foreign concept for some, it will be easy for others to grasp and apply to their lives to help promote a new outlook and experience. I hope you will see the value of proposing this to your readers, I believe that they will appreciate reading this opinion article and I appreciate your running it in your next issue, Thank you in advance, Jay North; for immediate release

On forgiveness

In contemporary psychology and new age philosophy it is a popular conception that forgiveness can bring about substantial healing and relief for those seeking help with over all improvement in their lifes experience and somewhat lighter experience here on this plane (planet earth). In other words, if we can learn to forgive those who we feel have wronged us, some how we might feel better about that individual and life over-all. Volumes of new books have been written on the subject of forgiveness by a wide verity of authors whom all had very interesting points of view on the subject. And there could be truth to such a notion (forgiveness). One might experiment with this a little .We can choose to excuse or forgive ones spouse for wrong doings or (mistakes) made against them, however perceived.

There is no doubt that there is a world of hurt all around us. As each and every person, group and clan has some perceived vision of being wronged, we feel victimized, occasionally, by those who wish to oppress us in one way or another.
And throughout history for many thousands of years people have felt taken advantage of, hurt used and abused. It goes beyond feelings; it touches on our core of beliefs, emotions and the very basic trusts we have in people around us. Some how, for many, they feel that they have been betrayed.

But what if, just perhaps, our own experience can be made more pleasurable, easier to get along, live well and prosper beyond our current circumstance if we can learn to forgive. What If this is possible?

Once not so long ago, in a very heart felt conversation with Leonard J. Mountain Chief, my adopted Blackfoot father. Leonard said, " If we can learn to forgive the white man we'll all be better off" referring to the tribes hatred towards the whites he said," it is time for us to forgive and move on".

Once at a lovely concert in Los Angeles CA. intended primarily for a black audience; my then beautiful African American girl friend and I were attending. A young man approached my companion and asked what are you doing with this honkey ". Yes we were holding hands. I stepped in to answer for her. Look man Im not a honky any more than you are a Negro. Look, if you cut me, you will see I am exactly like you. And if you are cut you will see you are exactly like me. We will both bleed and we are the same, we both appreciate a beautiful woman. Its time we forgive one-anothers race, we are in fact brothers". He stood silent for a moment and laughed and agreed. We hugged and that was the last I saw of him and no other negative event happened that night.

We homosapiens can find all sorts of assumingly justified reasons to hate one-another. Even though most are justifications, we have simply, out of fear, based conclusions that created our barriers to hold the separation instead of actually loving one another.

But not all is hopeless. We can, if we decide and if we choose, we can evolve through this appearance of a downward spiral of fear based hatred and come out stronger, happier, living in peace with all people everywhere. "Oh sure the skeptics are saying". You can never put two opposing groups in a room and ask them to forgive each other. You can not bring tribes together that have hated one another for centuries and say, OK guys now its time to love each other. But I beg to differ. What would life be like if we simply say I forgive you? I love you; you are my brother, sister and I wish for the fighting, dying and starvation to end. Can we please forgive one another and move on?

Just as an example, lets try this; I forgive the police for pretending to be Nazis; I forgive armies for the killing of innocent woman and children. I forgive the government for acts of treason, I forgive corporate greed for taking advantage of less educated countries and starving children. I forgive the whites for suppressing Blacks, Hispanics and Asians for hundreds of years. I forgive my spouse for debasing me; I forgive the rapist who took my life from me. I forgive my parents for not wanting me and not understanding how to raise a child. I forgive my teachers in school that understood little more than control. I forgive my farther for raping my sister and beating my brothers and me on a daily basis. I forgive all those who have falsely accused me and attempted to damage my reputation. And while your at it I forgive myself for all the wrong doings I have committed throughout all of my life to everyone, everywhere. One could even say a short prayer (if you choose) and ask for forgiveness for the acts of violence or acts of omissions one has committed in their own life experience towards all other people, animals plants and tress. Whoops, now that takes taking responsibility seriously, now doesnt it?

And whats the outcome we might expect? Well, why dont we all just do a little experiment starting today and find out? Find someone to forgive, let him or her know they are forgiven and ask him or her to forgive one other person. Gee, look at it this way, what have you got to lose, Your pride, your manhood, your womans integrity? Nothing at all should stand in the way of the peace we could experience through forgivingness.

Ill start today and why dont you join me, if you dont, I forgive you.

Jay North
Author of the Gift of Touch
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