Peace: Forgive Those Who Persecute You

I have a conflict with a family member.  I personally had no argument but something I said triggered anger in the other.  The other has a background of anger and I realised that understanding the root of the anger for this person is key. I spoke the truth gently but it was not received in that light. I felt no anger but today learned the family member is holding a grudge. So I chose to write the truth as I see it as gently as possible without losing the truth with the intent of helping the other to look at a painful part of themselves. I realise we are each others keepers.

I notice that I didn’t react at the time which means I have come to a point of peace, perhaps some maturity is surfacing. I am in alignment with my own truth and for me that is important. I know I am aligned as I feel no negativity and compassion is there. I am learning about truth and love and it has been an incredible journey. I never regret facing conflict it has been the most empowering experience of my life, funnily enough I realise that today.

My family are indeed my greatest teachers and I love them for sharing this road with me. I love them for challenging me and the conflict we experienced. I realise we all have something valuable to learn from each other. The gift is that I know this. I am not expecting them to be me but honouring they are who they are and love urges me to be honest but loving. If this means we become distanced I have enough strength within myself to allow the free choice of another without any negativity. I have already sent them unconditional love in my letter. I mean it deeply. However, I also have to live my truth as that is who I am.

I wrote to encourage forgiveness, in truth when we let go of negativity we free ourselves from holding pain. Unforgiveness is a negativity that causes harm to health and prevents a person from learning from conflict. Truths emerge when you face your conflicts, in truth they are a gift sent to you. I spent 3 1/2 hours writing as truthfully as I could but without any attempt to hurt the other. It was the kindnest act I could do. Of course I am prepared to hear truth about me in return and I am open to the truth. My hope is that we find a way to truth not being right. That is the challenge. When ego gets in the way we lose the essence of truth, and may seek to gather evidence to win or prove others wrong. Some have such strongly held notions of right and wrong that they are unable (inflexible) to see another view. In that case we can forgive and understand that the other is not ready for our truth.

What I say to people is that the most intelligent thing you can say to another is ‘I may be wrong’, as you say that you allow for truth to reveal itself. I may be wrong and I am open to that. In fact I am deeply grateful for someone to show me as I am seeking to live my truth. A honest critic is the greatest gift in my life. That is where real happiness emerges like the pearl from the hard shell.

Our purpose is to learn from conflict and to discover love under all conditions. This is what unconditional love looks like and it is the glimpse into the heaven many say they pray to. Yes indeed you can have it here on earth.

I add this in as a conclusion to this conflict.  I did delete the 3 1/2 hour letter and used it as a means of getting out what I needed to say.  Then I edited it to write the facts without right or wrong. I also signed off with love. I didn’t receive a response and then spoke with another person who surprised me by saying I have to forgive the past. I reacted to this and instantly knew it was true as I had reacted. That is the edge I must face within myself. With that I rang my family member and said I was ready to listen. She then told me her side which was different to what I expected. I also faced the past and my fears and just told my side. We both agreed we wanted peace and together we worked out a strategy of how to be with each other to ensure peace. We finished the conversation with ‘I love you.’ I felt happy.

Enjoy and I send you much love on your journey.

PEACE IS FOR-GIVING

World peace will only come,
When we can look into the eyes
Of those who trespass against us,
With love and compassion,
Forgiveness is always for giving.

For it is not to seek support,
But to know that one is supported by truth,
That is the true reconciliation
within the heart.

World peace is true freedom,
World peace is true expression,
It is the freedom to choose one’s actions,
The freedom to be one self in comm-unity,
The freedom to take responsibility,
But this is without expectation,
Without need,
Without greed,
It is to sit in peace and send love
to those who persecute us,
For if we hate,
If we shout,
If we feel anger,
Then we are at war with ourselves,
For peace has left
for it is not at war,
Turmoil is the soil,
That fertilizes our thoughts,
And it is thoughts of peace for the other,
That bring the new wind,
That open a space for understanding,
Of ourselves.

It is okay to feel the pain,
It is kind to feel for those disempowered,
It is good to wish for something higher,
But to be the change,
We must change,
And speak with love and peace,
For it is the love that sets us free,
Love is the seed,
That awaits the right conditions,
To grow through the resistance,
And this is the birth of a new variety.

Enjoy your day,
Don’t see it as a trial,
Fear is false evidence appearing real,
This is just another challenge to stand up for your truth,
To help others to see another way,
In freedom,
It matters not if there is the power of one,
Or the multitudes,
All truth tellers stand alone,
And this is the strength of the multitude,
For you will never see your strength in a crowd,
You will never hear peace when it is loud,
For peace is in stillness.

Life happens the way it is meant to,
For we do not trust god’s plan,
And it is unfolding although we may not see,
For only in our hearts can we be free,
When we see ourselves in the other,
For all of us trespass,
All of us force,
All of us are fighting,
But it is time to drop the arms,
To become defenseless,
It is time to say the psalms,
It is the time for peace,
This is the seed that is awaiting nourishment,
Quietly awaiting your attention,
It is in humility that it germinates,
It is love that is the nourishment.

For you are peace,
You are love,
You are joy,
You are the most beautiful expression,
So learn the lesson,
And the court will become a classroom,
Teaching values of mutual respect,
This is the sand of differences that grates,
That rub against each other,
Only through discomfort and friction can the pearl of deep respect be formed,
The hard edges are removed,
And the justice of real truth,
Emerges from the mountains of beliefs,
For this is the rising sun
Of self realization.
Om shanty in peace.