Learning to Forgive in the Darkest Hour: A Way of Healing

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Life with its uncertainties, often confronts us with spells of woe, economic and emotional instabilities. One does feel in times like this that all hope is lost and questions his or her purpose and worth on planet earth. From the middle of such misery however, comes the practice of spiritual forgiveness as a balming remedy. It not only relieves one's burden but also brings one closer to other individuals, making hope out of despair.

Hard Economic Times: A Common Enemy

The world is no stranger to economic ups and downs that often cause great distress. Whether through job loss, unexpected expenses, or a broader economic downturn, it can be a very lonely struggle. Most people struggle with feelings of insignificance, shame, and despair. Repercussions manifest in many diverse ways which includes stress, anxiety, and even ill health.

It is during these challenging times that we forget the very basic fact that we are not alone in our hard times. It is often the burden of economic hardship which clouds our eyes and mind from viewing the light that is available by way of community and support. The concept of forgiveness bears considerable poignancy within this perspective.

The Role of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is the ointment on the wound, particularly during periods of suffering. This is something a person decides on upon reaching that phase in life when the hurt inflicted by other people needs to be thrown off through the release of resentment and vengefulness. Forgiveness is never an act alone in the release of emotions and spirit which are freed in both the forgiver and the forgiven. .

Holding onto anger or resentment is psychologically deleterious. According to research, these negative feelings are sure to increase the level of stress, anxiety, and even depression. Forgiveness on the other hand, is a conscious process by which these feelings are reduced, thereby permitting one to release his pent-up emotions and view life in a positive light or dimension.

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The Emotional Dynamics of Forgiveness
Now, consider this, the power to forgive someone who has wronged you at a particularly vulnerable time in your life. It's is an emotional release for the forgiver, a casting off of burdens both weighty and constricting. Visualize going on a hike while carrying a weighted-down backpack filled with rocks, each a grievance and a wound. You begin to take off some of those rocks as you decide to forgive someone. You lighten up with each rock you let go of.
On the other side of that equation, forgiveness brings an equally profound impact on the person being forgiven. This opens up avenues for redemption and enables them to heal from past mistakes. This process instills a huge level of gratitude and feelings of relief. This influence will be extremely great psychologically on both parties and leads to community and mutual understanding, having the capacity to rebuild relationships that have been fractured.

Spiritual Forgiveness: The Road to Freedom On the spiritual level:

Forgiveness is often seen as a means toward personal deliverance. Most religious and spiritual traditions put great stress on forgiveness as a key to finding such inner peace and harmony. It reminds us that we, similarly flawed and failing, are all worthy of compassion.

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Forgiveness invites us to acknowledge the common humanity within each one of us. During economic hardship, it allows us to look above our given situations and appreciate the bigger perspective-that one thread of suffering is shared among everyone. Spiritual enlightenment of this nature can spark empathy and compassion, ingredients that go a long way in developing persons and communities.

Personal Reflection

Yes, I too have passed through those moments that shook my spirit and resolve. Financial instability once threatened to shake me by my self-esteem. At that point in time, I also faced a painful betrayal on the part of somebody whom I trusted so much. The battle of carrying the dual burden of financial concern and carrying emotional pain became heavy to manage. However, in this reflecting and introspecting process, I understood that forgiving could become my therapeutic key to healing.

Lastly, forgiveness is one thing that can help restore peace to this world. Today there are rumors of war and tomorrow there are threats of using nuclear weapons against one another. If we as humans don't learn to forgive and move on with our lives harboring peace and unity among ourselves, We will end up destroying not only our offenders but even our livelihood.

The threat of world war 3 is on the rise and if this war should happen we all know that it wont be a war of only guns and arrows but with atomic bombs included which will completely destroy modern civilization. Who will survive it if not the riches and those who have made provisions for food and nuclear bunkers? What about the poor and average in the community who hardly can feed for a month without having to work with no storage of food.
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Let us pray for the peace of the world and of the holy land Jerusalem.

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