Last week I came across Project Forgive on KickStarter. Take 6 minutes to watch this video describing the project:
Shawne Duperon is leading the project and seeking 100,000 in funding to create this video documentary about forgiveness.
You cannot flourish if you cannot forgive
I believe forgiving others is huge. It’s life-changing! None of us can live our best life unless we forgive those who hurt us. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why that is, and here’s here’s what I think it comes down to…
Usually when we refuse to forgive someone who has hurt us, it’s out of a sense of justice – we believe the other person must pay for what they’ve done. The problem is, in most cases we have neither the right nor the ability to administer justice. In those cases where a crime has been committed, we can work through the legal system, but in the grand scheme of things even our legal system administer justice in a very limited, imperfect manner.
It reminds me of the old serenity prayer you’ve probably heard many times:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Ultimately, responsibility for justice lies with God. It falls into the “accept the things I cannot change” category.
As a Christian, I know God tells us in the bible that in the end we will all stand before Him and be held accountable for our actions. God is a perfect judge; He is both perfectly just and perfectly merciful. Honestly, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around those two seemingly contradictory ideals. But I know this: in the end God will make all things right for both victims and perpetrators.
Because I believe God will make all things right, I don’t have to bear that burden myself.
Forgiving someone is not letting them off the hook for their wrong; it’s letting yourself off the hook for making them pay for it.
(A tweetable version: Forgiving some1 is not letting them off the hook 4 their wrong; it’s letting urself off the hook 4 making them pay 4 it.)
If you’re still holding back and not forgiving someone, let go. Let God do his job so you can move on an do yours.
If you believe in the power of forgiveness, support Project Forgive and help make it happen.