This is not groundbreaking to anyone else, but a couple of weeks ago, I had my own little epiphany.
To experience true peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding, one must do three things:
1) Forgive. And I mean truly forgive, and I mean everyone.
2) Detach. Detach from all earthly, creaturely things so as to attach to God.
3) Accept. Accept all joys and sufferings as if they came to you from the Hand of God.
No, it is not easy, but yep, it is just that simple.
Maybe not "ground breaking" as you say, but so easy to miss because it's so hard to do! I've had this epiphany myself a few times and I'm always surprised by how obvious this is and yet it is the last resort because it is the *hardest*.
ReplyDeleteI especially agree w/ #1, though all steps are necessary. I have found that if I hang onto anger--whether it be consciously or unconsciously--I have no peace. It's easy to accuse those who have hurt us of "stealing our joy/peace" but in essence, it's what we do to ourselves when we don't forgive.
1) Forgive. And I mean truly forgive, and I mean everyone.
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, yas!
This is the gateway to peace. People might think that forgiveness means they have to give up power. But grudges don't generate power. They're energy vampires, taking all kinds of energy to maintain. Not a good mental or spiritual state to stay in.
I have heard forgiveness explained, "Forgiving someone doesn't make them right. It makes you free."
Then God can truly get back to work in your soul, because you've released that person or situation into His hands to the best of your ability.
Also, it's also mandatory that we forgive in order to inherit heaven. Yeaaaaaap.
2) Detach. Detach from all earthly, creaturely things so as to attach to God.
Amen. And I'd add a quick description, because people tend to confuse detachment with indifference:
Detachment is not indifference. Detaching is healthy, it keeps us level-headed as to what is useful in the temporal, here and now, vs. what is really important for all eternity.
Detachment is a fruit of the Spirit, operating under the Spirit. Indifference is a lukewarm attitude. It's fleshly, uninspired, and dull.
3) Accept. Accept all things, good and ill, as if they came from the Hand of God.
And trust that God is always for you, not against you.
"What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us?" - Rom 8:31
Yes, thank you for that clarification about indifference!! There are nuances to these three steps (such as #3 NOT meaning "accept injustice since God wants things this way"). In fact, I think I will tweak the last one....
ReplyDeleteI love the way that the path to holiness is simple… too bad it's not also easy! :)
ReplyDeleteThe one I have been facing lately is no. 1. I have found that the only person I have a really hard time forgiving is myself, and I don't suppose I'm alone in that. I've seen it suggested that pride is involved, in the sense that maybe I just can't accept that *I* of all people have committed such sin. If that's the case, though, it's not because I look at my life and say, 'Wow, how did Super Me ever manage to do THAT?!" It's more along the lines of, how could someone who has been shown such good example and had such tremendous grace available still manage to do the wrong thing? It's just hard to accept how often I do the wrong thing or how often I repeat doing the same wrong thing. It's not always sin, either, it is just trying but still failing to make the right choices (the used car I just bought would be an example, but that is a long story! I tried so hard to make a good choice, and yet….) In forgiving ourselves, though, maybe we learn to depend more on God, both in His ability to help us and, even more, in His ability to make good come out of our bad choices. I've been reminding myself that God is WAY bigger than any stupid thing I've ever done, and that His mercy is available for the little things as well as for the big things.
#!......I disagree. I understand that this is a healthy concept and what God would ask of us.....but some things cannot be forgiven. When someone lies and that lie can destroy a whole family....that cannot be forgiven.
ReplyDeleteAngel, it is a terrible thung to be betrayed by people who are supposed to stand by us forever. I don't see forgiveness as the same thing as accepting evil. If evil is not done to you, then what would there be to forgive? I see forgiveness as being able to say, "God, bless that person. Give good to them.". To me, it is a win-win. I give up my desire to see evil come to them, and the truth is, they have to get right with God in order to fully receive His blessing. Getting right with God would include, some day, addressing the injustice committed against you. You may never know when that happens, but ut is ultimately between them and God anyhow. To put an extra spin on Nubby's quote, I like this one: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to realize that the prisoner was you."
ReplyDeleteIt IS simple, the way in which losing weight IS simple.If you burn more calories than you take in, you will lose weight; VERY simple. But how difficult it is to lose weight with our natural tendency towards fatty food, our bad habits, hunger pains and the “culture of food” we live in? So it is with these three steps. We need God’s Grace!
ReplyDeleteAngel, if you are a follower of Christ, then there is no option. We are command to forgive, and forgive everyone. And that is the measure by which we will be forgiven by God. Jesus forgave sins against himself that are far worse than anything that can be done to us.
ReplyDeleteAre you a Christian? If so, how do you get around Christ's specific command, to forgive seventy times seven?
My specific issue on this subject.....I prefer to not share. But, trust me and with all due respect, it cannot be forgiven. I know that God knows my dilemma and He understands what is in my heart and the heart of my family. In addition, despite your suggestion that my Christianity is in question, I assure you I am a true Christian and a faithful cradle Catholic. So unless you have walked in my shoes or incurred the pain that occurred because of the horrific lie, then we must agree to disagree.
ReplyDelete