There is a part of me that is drawn to thinking about this situation and obsessing over what in the world I could have done to incite this extreme reaction. But then today, I realized that my head was in the wrong place.
What I should be doing is focusing on situations that have occurred in my life in which I have continued to hold a grudge against someone or been unable to forgive someone. Holding on to a grudge is like wearing a heavy weight around my neck. It causes pain and strains my heart and eventually will make me stoop into an older version of myself. So, I need to focus on those folks who have hurt me in some way and work on changing my reaction to a forgiving one.
People are the ultimate fallable mammals. We do screw up spectacularly. Not every bad act is the result of someone wishing to do evil. Sometimes people cause pain because they are so caught up in their own lives that they don't realize the impact they are having on someone. Sometimes they have been damaged in their own lives and their behavior is a result of that damage.
The Buddhist faith describes "dukkha" as an uneasiness that we all carry within us. The work of the faithful is to focus on ridding ourselves of that disquiet. Some describe dukkha as riding in a cart that has a broken place on one wheel. Each time that broken place rolls around, we are jolted. Holding grudges or being unable to forgive is like having a wheel with a broken place. We can't travel through life on a smooth path nor focus on the beauty of life because we continue to be jolted.Those who have hurt me over the years are just as human as I am. Clearly, I am capable of hurting other people, sometimes without even knowing how I did it. So, perhaps those who hurt me would be surprised to know how I feel. Perhaps by adopting a forgiving heart, I am somehow upsetting the apple cart of cosmic energy. Maybe that energy can heal those who are so angry with me. Maybe not. But I can at least be comforted by knowing that I am trying to let go of those dark spots on my heart. Ridding my life of dukkha and allowing joy and the light of the One who loves me most to shine on me - and through me - each and every day.
4 comments:
Bravo!! Another wonderful and insightful post! Thanks for the "thought for the day."
There was a woman who had some grudge against me as well and spread rumors about me in our church of all places. It took several years for me to come around and recognize what you just wrote. I knew all along she had things she was dealing with and wanted to diminish my light...but I had to learn to forgive her. What a weight was lifted when I decided to recognize her actions for what they were and to just forgive. We're not friends, but I don't think about her anymore either.
God bless and have a good day.
That's lovely, sweet sister, and would be a good idea for all of us.
I know just how you feel. I had a neighbor who walked around the neighborhood putting her spin on things, defaming my husband and I. I found out through my brother, who lives in another city entirely, and a friend that this was going on. She said her thoughts were that there must be another side to this story. Indeed there was. It weighed heavy on me for years. At some points I didn't wven want to go out in my yard fearing she'd make rude remarks. I like your perspective on it. Ridding the dukkha. Shine on!
Thank you, all! I so appreciate your feedback!
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