Looking from the Lens of Forgiveness

One of the most plausible substances of a believer is their power to forgive but not because they are superheroes but because they themselves have tasted the depth of His forgiveness. But if we lay it down on the table, forgiveness is so hard to spell. It talks about our rights, our pride, our values. It asks you to consider all perspectives. It calls you to weigh things. It is something you can't demand to someone and on the same manner, they can't demand from you. It involves the whole of you.


ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS

Asking for forgiveness is more than being sorry to your actions and more than admitting your fault. I say, it's putting value to the person - to your relationship, to his/her feelings, to him/her as a person. We may have different perspective on the matter but we have to remember that emotions are valid and thus, asking for forgiveness is going beyond our logic.



I believe that the call to ask for forgiveness is not dependent on the consequences it had to make on the person. You don't have to wait for the person to look sorry before you say sorry. Hence, when pride takes the upper hand, remember that we are made from love, for love, and to love.




RELEASING FORGIVENESS

Releasing forgiveness is not a walk in the park because the pain almost always cloud us. But if we will just honestly evaluate it, what good thing can unforgiveness do to us? Even if I ponder it a thousand times, I guess I will never get an answer.



Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34



Looking at Jesus' standard, releasing forgiveness is looking from where the person is coming from (for they do not know what they are doing). Scrutinizing deeper, Jesus released forgiveness to the people who don't even have any intention to say sorry, not even a single hint of a changed heart. Needless to say, we don't get the green light from them. We don't wait for the person to apologize even before we extend forgiveness because actually, releasing them is freeing ourselves as well.

As a final note, here's Gary V's tweet for us to ponder: ‎"One thing that blows my mind away is when Jesus, even while being nailed 2 the cross said "God forgive them 4 they know not what they do"......He said this for a people who only had one thing in mind and that was to kill Him. This is the kind of love this God of ours has for us."

The STRONG Ones

Many people are amazed on how these “strong” people can do it. For me, one thing that I really learned is that everything just really depends on how we see things, really. Admittedly, I’ve wanted to peek what the future lies so I would be able to appreciate every detail of pain and get at least a little concrete assurance of the trail I’m travelling but then again, where would “faith” comes in?

Through many years of my Christian journey, I have come to understand that FAITH is the main flavour for me to savor every little chunk that comes to my plate. No matter what the taste would be – be it sweet, bitter, sour, tasteless– my FAITH would let me finish my meal.

Running around the unfamiliar roads is not simple, unquestionably not, but every time I see myself again hustling through the wilderness, I would always hold HIS grip. I know seeing it though my perspective won’t help at all; I need HIM to take the lead. It’s actually reading through the blank pages or getting the message through jumbled words – that’s how faith works.

So does it mean being “strong” equates to being “numb” to pain? Absolutely not, definitely not. But I must say, it’s how the strong ones translate the pain into trust, into hope, into love, into every little thing that would radiate HIS glory. The strength of a person is also not about how fast one can recover from the sting of life because I believe, many of these “strong ones” could still be under recovery yet they opt to still run and believe HIS perfect and irrefutable plan.

“In EVERYTHING, give thanks…” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Plasters and Blisters

Conquering new heights is like wearing new shoes. We get so excited to try it on. We feel pretty and walk so gorgeously on our first few steps... but after few more steps... and another step, we can feel the pain on our feet... blisters are forming. And for us to just go through the day, we put plasters on them... Yet still, the agony of bearing the pain and letting the day pass is kicking-in. But at the end of the day, we may find our feet with plasters and blisters, there's still undeniable satisfaction of having a new blessing... and we know, after some more tries walking with it, we'll get used to it... and soon enough, we will realize, how pretty we are on our new shoes... and that it perfectly fit with our size.

On the same manner, we get so excited with the idea of starting our career to a new place or new heights or taking new assignment. Hence, our hearts are so filled with joy as we start the journey... We're so pumped up with passion and determination! But as the days... and some more days pass by, the agony of waiting is just 'killing' us...

So I must say, "adjustment period" is inevitable and resistance is almost always part of the process but as long as we begin to see our future in HIS eyes and appreciate each blessing that was given to us, every step, big or small, is indeed not a waste... and sooner or later, it will be paid-off.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."