THE KEY OF FREEDOM

The true key to individual freedom is forgiveness. The reason for this is simple: “You do this, not for the other person’s sake, but for your own sake.” Can you think of a single spiritual teacher that has not made this point? Without forgiveness no real spiritual progress can ever be made. When we fail to embrace forgiveness we lock ourselves into a circular route that inevitably leads back to the same difficulties clothed in different garb, again and again. Applying the same solutions, we reap the same results, and then thinking we have mastered the lesson move on, only to be confronted again in short order by the same difficulties in a fresh set of clothes. Living on the Spiritual Basis requires forgiving not only in word and in our actions, but in our heart.

By recognizing our part and then becoming willing to amend our behavior, apologizing to those requiring apology (all require prayer but not all require an apology) we set our feet squarely on the path. The problem is that some people and incidents continue to crop up in our consciousness even though they have been treated with prayer. The problem arises because we hold onto a kernel of seemingly justified anger that blocks us effectively as a dam blocks a river from experiencing peace. When we hold onto an old hurt, justifying our action for any reason, we stand outside the sunlight of the Presence of God, placing ourselves in the shadow of resentment and fear. By embracing justified anger our thinking becomes stale, stagnant and unhealthy, by throwing open our heart to forgiveness we are rejuvenated. The course here is clear; when these items appear in our consciousness immediately treat them again with prayer and ask to be shown if there is anything we can do to be of service to those just prayed for. By becoming willing to be of service to those who harmed us sets us free. To be very clear, by demonstrating your willingness you are set free, God will never place you in a position to be harmed if you are about His business, so even if we have been hurt terribly, today nothing is more important than our freedom, freedom from them and the power they still exert in our lives. By taking the contrary action to what the World and our carnal mind would have us do, we raise our consciousness and stand in the sunlight of the Spirit, clean, rejuvenated and free, the law of forgiveness manifest.