Apr 9, 2007

Forgive?

Easter is over - time for introspection, time for penance, and time of rebirth. When the death (and resurrection) of a man washed away the sins of millions, at the story has it.

A man, in Italy, decided to walk 430 miles, pushing a handmade cart onto which he glued images of saints and sinners, the Virgin and John Lennon; he's walking all the way to Rome to ask for forgiveness. Not the Pope's, mind you: he hopes to win back his woman, who abandoned him after he raised his hands on her in anger. He acknowledged his mistake, and thought that saying "I'm sorry" to his now ex-girlfriend wouldn't be enough, given the enormity of his act. His humanity died the moment he raised his hands on her, and a second time when she left. Now he hopes in forgiveness, and rebirth.

I wonder if I'm just touched by this guy's determination, or if there comes a moment in life when you have to forgive, to be able to let go. It is not easy, for at times it is the grudge itself that enables you to remember the pain, and therefore fuels itself by not allowing you to forget. Or forgive whomever inflicted pain.

I know I can't forget. Maybe with time the memory will be diluted and scarves and green led lights will regain their status of "random objects". With time, it will feel more like a bad dream rather than a real nightmare.

But forgive? Can I do that?
Am I strong enough to forgive?
And let go?

Is my forgiveness somebody else's rebirth?



2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know for a fact that you are strong enough to forgive, but I wish you'd think about yourself for a change - which you NEVER do... Always worrying about everybody else, making sure everybody is happy, but who worries about you?
I don't think he deserves your forgiveness... But I know you, I know you will anyway... you'd forgive your own killer. That's just the wonderful person you are.

Love you.
S.

Anonymous said...

to forgive is always a good thing, but sometimes the best thing one can do is to...just forget!