My poem inspired by A Course in Miracles According to A Course in Miracles, true forgiveness is our only real work in this life. With practice, we get better. Maybe it’s finally sinking in for me. Marianne Williamson popularized the message of the Course in her wonderful book, A Return to Love. A friend gave me this book at a time when I was feeling very low. Soon I was not focused on what I saw as big losses, but on the many things that I could do now to express love -- the only thing that matters. I found joy. But I didn’t begin to study the Course until another difficult time. A healer told me that she felt led to share her bookshelf with me. One of the books I was drawn to was Gary Renard’s Disappearance of the Universe. It explained the unusual metaphysics of the Course clearly, in a way that rang true for me. It emphasized how important it was to forgive, which is the key to everything. I wanted to know more, and bought the lengthy text, joined a local study group and began to practice in earnest. I practiced forgiving everything from small irritations to the big stuff. I discovered that I was quick with snap judgements, especially when driving. Many things irked me, like what I considered risky driving. I began to say in my mind, “I forgive you” for anything that came up, and at the same time, forgave myself for judging. The change in my outlook felt marvellous. It was during this time that I encountered someone from my past, or someone who certainly resembled that man. What happened in the past is not especially important, as the Course considers all of it a dream. Only God and Love are real. As a result, we don’t forgive someone by saying, “You did this bad thing and I forgive you (saint that I am).” We forgive, assuming that all of our unhappy story is made up, an illusion. We forgive, knowing that this is our brother or sister, connected to us. And when we forgive, we ourselves experience forgiveness and get closer to our truth. When I saw this man from my (apparent) past, or someone who looked like him wearing dark glasses on a cloudy day, it brought to mind other times when Leo* would show up unexpectedly. The last time, he had tracked me down to confront me about an imagined slight. But I was practicing forgiveness now and unpleasant memories were not my focus. I was riding my bike, and rode past the man, offering a slight smile, saying in my mind, “I forgive you, Leo.” It was no small step. I felt so free! I wanted that freedom again when a new issue arose. I took a break from the Course to try another path. The Course doesn’t claim to be the only road to enlightenment -- only the quickest one. I knew there would be space for me to take a detour, but I got out of the habit of forgiving. My father gave me a powerful example of forgiveness. When he was being marched toward execution as a prisoner of war, he prayed for his armed guards. He was concerned about them having this terrible deed on their souls after their death. He prayed, “Forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” The execution was immediately stayed by superior officers who arrived out of nowhere. My father may have been a prisoner in terms of his physical body, but his faith gave him real freedom. Acting on his faith brought forth a miracle, in terms of our earthly understanding. It wouldn’t be the last time. A Course in Miracles would say the miracle was the decision to forgive, to overlook the perceived failing and see the soul instead. Peace is our gift when we learn that way of seeing others. It’s time for a new regime in my life. I’m calling a truce. Anyone who remembers that I hurt you, I pray for your forgiveness. Every person who believes they may have hurt me, and anyone whom I remember as having hurt me, you’re forgiven. In the only place where anything matters, Love is the only thing that ever happened. It was there all along. Maybe we saw a shadow of it, but now can see it clearly. I want to choose love, every moment of every day in this illusory life. I expect that I’ll need help along the way, and that it will be provided, exactly when I need it. - Irene Plett * Name has been changed. Topics: Forgiveness, Love, A Course in Miracles, Peter Plett
2 Comments
Ruth
9/3/2019 08:52:06 pm
What a lovely and loving approach to life Irene. I wish you well as you continue to pursue this attitude to everything that happens around you.
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WriterIrene Plett is a writer, poet and animal lover living in South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Categories
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