Today as I was doing a forgiveness meditation, I physically felt a lessening of my physical pain in my back. I sat for a moment, feeling the Spirit at work in me, opening my heart to the people I love. I could feel this forgiveness for a person that had hurt me (intentionally or unintentionally) and for myself for causing hurt to other people.

When I open my heart to the Spirit and healing, I open myself up to more people around me. My experience is that I can be intentional about creating space and spending time in the spiritual dimension with a personal God, but often the healing is a dimension where the spirit brings a new type of restoration. Forgiveness is an ongoing process, and something I have sought from a pretty young age. It is layers and layers of woundedness often so complicated that I can’t grasp the impact, and don’t see how it builds up to create walls where I shut others out and allow self destructive habits in. For some reason, the ability to forgive myself and others is something that brings unity and peace. This is perhaps why Jesus emphasizes God’s grace in forgiving us, so we can be freer to love and forgive others.

Immediately after feeling this amazingly healing moment, I felt a desire to reach out to some people around me. I pray that I will hold onto this moment, where I can remember the grace given to me, and want to share this freedom and love with those around me.

In Grace and Light, Elissa