He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. It is impossible even to begin the act of loving one's enemies without the prior acceptance of the necessity, over and over again, of forgiving those who inflict evil and injury upon us.
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship.
I agree with all of this up to the last word.... "barrier to the RELATIONSHIP" In most cases I believe this applies, but there are instances, i.e., abusive relationships where we are able to forgive in order to love the person and not the evil act. But not in order to establish a "relationship" with that person. In the perfect world, the perpetrator would be remorseful, ask for forgiveness, seek the help they need and all would be well. However, in the real world that is more often than not.....not the case. I would say, "Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to forgiving them. It enables us to be free and extend and experience a Love deeper than we are capable of ourselves."
Ricky, I agee with you on this point totally. This is how a couple of therapists have described it to me.
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