Forgiveness is a superpower
Darkness is always the angel of light, while goodness has dents, dings, and scratches.
Darkness fronts with unmatched purity & kindness, while the honesty of goodness shows the raw and, at times, uncouth reality of the journey.
Without wisdom, the empty light and void promises of darkness are enough to overflow the cup of any fool. Without wisdom, the flawless and unrivaled piety of faux goodness shame the authentic journey. Without wisdom, what is genuine has never and will never stand against the indomitable cold light of darkness.
The difference between following the favored fool and actual goodness is forgiveness. Without forgiveness, we will never support noble leaders who have fallen short in many ways yet are poised to elevate the trajectory of mankind. Without forgiveness, we will always miss the right thing at the right moment. Without forgiveness, we will only win to the extent that those we are wrong about persevere through our sanctimonious bullshit. Without forgiveness, we will raise up new and more devious serpents in our foolish attempts to slay the dragon.
Without forgiveness, our condition is worse than just being along for the ride; we are the play-things of charlatans.
Lack of forgiveness stems from our inability to overcome offense. The easier we are offended, the more blinded we are toward reality. We must remember we don't forgive because they deserve it; we forgive so we can see again. Forgiveness is the great doorway to the realm of significance. With it, we are not guaranteed impact; but without it, we are guaranteed to be without consequence. Only through forgiveness might we align with what stands the test of fire; all else is chaff; all others are chattel.
A heart without forgiveness is hardened toward what is new or different; it exists in irons and is dragged about by the whims of power. A heart without forgiveness yearns for the status quo; in times of extraordinary people, an unforgiving heart will follow the ordinary and march to the banner of failure.
A forgiving heart is open and ready to find value right where it lies, no matter its trappings. An unforgiving heart only sees what everyone already knows. Nobody is above this. Elon Musk thinks his company, Tesla, would likely not interview, let alone hire Nikola Tesla if he applied, something that Elon is working to change. It is the heart of forgiveness that sees unheard-of brilliance.
If you want to claim you would not have been a Nazi if you grew up in 1930s Germany, you need to show that you have taken a non-mainstream stance that has cost you significantly. Similarly, if you want to know if you would have supported one as extraordinary as Joan of Arc, you need to show that you have supported uncanny and unique brilliance that produced uncanny and unique results. This is only possible through and by a lifestyle of forgiveness.
There are three main levels of enlightenment regarding our support of either goodness or evil.
Level 1 is where we are wantonly yanked about hither and thither by the slightest fancies of the pillars of society. Here we defend their actions with their words, never thinking anew no matter how obvious, no matter how much it violates our personal preferences or preconceived notions. Here people are ruthless and vengeful over things that matter little.
Level 2 is where we can spot fraud and stand against the mainstream when it conflicts with our natural certainties. Here we stand up for our point of view and forgive to the extent we have stewarded courage.
Level 3 finds few names in its roll call. These people are able to follow when Aslan is on the move. Irrespective of subtleties or personal preferences, these people can not be triggered or swayed through offense. They have hearts that forgive 70 times 7. They see plainly. They see clearly. Here people are merciful and forgiving concerning things that matter the most.
For me, the wicked W.E.F. / New World Order / Build Back Better / Own nothing and be happy lot of dipshits is all too easy to spot. But I worry that just the right type of authoritarian might leverage my personal preferences to deceive me towards their well-meaning foolishness.
This is why forgiveness is a superpower; it removes the ruling class's most potent weapon, their ability to make us afraid and offended. It ensures that impact is a sovereign choice rather than a manufactured manipulation.
Caring and compassionate people are great, but they are the easiest group to get to do anything. For the greatest of evils has come from misplaced compassion. Misplaced passion is very similar. Both are one big lie away from supporting genocide. Because of fear and offense, look at how many compassionate people supported hospitals denying life-saving treatment because someone wasn't vaccinated. (Many still do.) People close to me championed the destruction of free speech because saying the vaccine would not confer immunity or make covid non-transmissible was too dangerous. In the western world, many were advocating for, and beginning to implement some form of "green pass" that would bar any unvaccinated people from participating in buying or selling. Our local/State/Federal betters were SO CLOSE to pulling this off… don't think this test isn't coming again... soon. This is among the reasons we can not let these intellectual and moral stains slip into a faded memory, not to bludgeon those who partook in these illiberal lies, but so that we might squeeze the good stuff out of each mistake. Covid put many on the record, and we all need to own how we were duped and commit to living differently. I say all this to be completely clear that the mission towards forgiveness is not a movement away from accountability; a life of forgiveness is meant to draw those who have errored into the warm embrace of extreme accountability and extreme restoration. The ultimate purpose of forgiveness is to treat the object of this mercy as though the infraction never occurred. This healing and sustainable mission is only realized through the highest degree of accountability.
It is so important to have hard conversations regularly. If we do not have these difficult conversations, we will never go on the record to anyone and, therefore, we will never be held accountable for our own unique foolishness. If we slink away from these discussions, our instinct to protect ourselves will convince us that we didn't really believe those lies when not only did we most certainly believe them, but we furthered the lie to the extent we had influence. Without a heart full of forgiveness, we will be too offended at those we disagree with to have these much-needed honing interactions.
We have all changed, grown, and evolved; we have all been wrong, and we are all currently wrong about an unknown smattering of issues and topics, and that's okay. Yet, I have found that most people in my life who keep getting the big issues wrong want to have fewer conversations, and while it is understandable, it's also prideful and pathetic. It isn't shameful to get duped; it is GREATLY shameful to run from the truth and disengage because you have been found wanting. Don't worry; they protect their egos by saying they have been busy and distracted by life etc.; the truth is these folks haven't the courage to face the fact they were deeply morally and factually wrong. Those of us who have been recently correct, with great love and mercy, must forgive and continuously invite those who have been wrong into a forgiving and impactful relationship, if we fail to do so, we too will miss something significant. If we live with a heart tuned towards forgiveness and restoration, we set the stage for our own salvation; for one day, we ourselves will need the same forgiveness in the areas of our own blinded foolishness, and without those we helped restore, no one will be there to shoulder the burden of our own untruths.
The beginning of sight is always a heart of forgiveness.
With forgiveness, we will be in the room for what matters when it matters.
With forgiveness, we not only follow true leaders, but we find our true selves.
Hold Tension, Be Vast.Remember, restoration alone brings victory.