Forgiveness, wow, what a task. There is no better way to completely free your soul than forgiveness. That is why forgiveness is one of the most daunting tasks known to man. Due to the conditions of society and based off how we were raised, forgiveness was for the weak. An eye for an eye, heart for a tooth is how I was brought up. I wouldn’t let anyone get away with hurting me. I wanted them to feel my pain. The recovery program I attended required us to attend a church of our choosing every Sunday. I was baptized Catholic so I went to a catholic church in Ft. Collins. I went for 3 months straight and not one person said hi to me. I got angry at religion and even God for shunning me at such a vulnerable time in my life. I then separated our Creator from religion. I then separated religion from the individual human being. I found forgiveness in my heart for those who didn’t say hi to me. In forgiveness I found peace. Through peace I realized I was never shunned by our creator or religion. I was never really shunned by anyone. I was just hurt so I took things personally. I then realized by judging the individuals who I felt shunned by was making me very hypocritical. I will immediately unfollow any spiritual page that talks about religious people searching for God in a building while we’re put in nature or reaching for the cosmos in meditation. Just like I get sad for the religious community when they say their way is the only one true pathway to our Father. Our creator is like recovery.

We all have the same goal; we just take different paths to get there. Judging the religious community by saying they don’t do things right or they’re too judgmental is placing judgement on them. We’re being judgmental by calling them judgmental and that’s hypocrisy at its finest. There is freedom in this forgiveness business. It takes the oldest, wisest, baddest, most beautiful soul to end the toxic train through forgiveness. Hurt people will always hurt people.

You may be offended at work and it makes you sad. You go home and take that sadness out on a significant other. Then they use their friend as a verbal or physical punching bag. This toxic trait continues to spit venom and pain from soul to soul. That pain can end with you. The wiser soul, the hardened soldier.

With forgiveness in your heart not only can you find the empathy to understand why your enemies attack you, but you also find the courage to pray that our creator helps those who hurt us. Let the creator heal them through prayer or karma. This is so hard to do. Remember forgiveness is not for them. Forgiveness doesn’t make them right or even worthy to be in your presence. Forgiveness is for you. It gives you freedom, peace and strength. It takes the baddest of them all, the soul that shines brightest to carry this forgiveness in our hearts then the courage to help our enemies heal from the reason they decided to attack. So forgive yourself, forgive others and forgive those who have pushed you away from any spiritual path.