Random thought: Forgiveness

[macsen rufus]

IMHO everyone is missing the whole point of forgiveness -- it is not about the offender, but the forgiver.

An act of forgiveness does not say "You have offended me, but I forgive you, get on with your life", rather "I have been offended against, but I will not carry the burden of hatred and hence get on with MY life". Assuming a religious belief, we could also add "and I trust God to deal with you". Forgiveness is a victim-release act, not a perpetrator-release act. Just letting someone off punishment is not forgiveness.

People who cannot forgive, cannot move on, and cannot recover. They fester and amplify the actual hurt they have suffered, and often damage their own nature in doing so. I believe this is where the spiritual value of forgiveness lies.