The Unforgiven

Do We Really Need To Be Forgiven?

People have long been infatuated with the act of forgiveness and what it means. Forgive yourself. Forgive each other. Ask for forgiveness. It’s a constant forgiveness circus. Do we really mean it when we say we have forgiven? I think we lip service God, ourselves, and others on a daily basis. If forgiven is forgiven then why do we not forget? If letting go is part of forgiveness why can’t we forget? Why can’t we move on? If we forgive someone why do we not trust them still? If there actually is a concept such as forgiveness then I think these things should be included in true forgiveness.

If God sees all and knows all why do we need to ask him for forgiveness? Aren’t we just saying whatever to God? How many times have we asked God for forgiveness just to turn around and do the same thing again. Maybe we did it numerous times after asking for forgiveness. Doesn’t that mean we lied? Doesn’t that mean we lip-serviced God Almighty? God already knows everything about us and everything we are going to do so what satisfaction does he, it, she, they, get from our trite request for a forgiveness we do not even believe in. Forgiveness is a human concept connected to guilt: self guilt, implied guilt, express guilt… the options to personalize one’s own guilt are never-ending. Why would God want us to ask for forgiveness? All religious dogma aside, please! Does anyone have an answer? Forgive, as defined by Yahoo Reference means: 2. To renounce anger or resentment against. So, that part makes sense. Though I have to wonder, does God really resent us when we do the forgivable? When we feel we have been wronged we are angry or resentful towards that person. Okay, some of us. The definition, to me, implies that God holds grudges against us for our transgressions. That part does not make sense. Why would God be angry at us for something he/she/it/they already knew we were going to do? Why would God bother to waste that kind of time and energy on such a negative action? Besides, God can do anything. God can appear before one’s very eyes and say, “You know you messed up, don’t you?” Why does God need to hang around being angry or resentful towards millions of humans everyday.

Also, think about all the lies and hiding that forgiveness incorporates. We hide things from everyone all the time. We hide things from God, ourselves, our parents, friends, children, and others. Who are we really kidding? When the only opinion that matters belongs to God, why do we spend so much time hiding? What is so bad about looking at the truth? I’ll tell you. We might disappoint someone. We just might have to see the look on someone’s face when they find out what’s really going on . We chalk hiding, a.k.a. lying, up to protecting someone. That would make us liable or responsible for our actions. Why do we make truth out to be the bad guy? Ex: Have you ever had a friend that lied to someone else about something you were both involved in? They claimed they would tell the truth and then lied. So, when you told the real truth, you were the one that looked like the liar. Why did the truth have to take a fall? It is said that time will tell [the truth]. I fully believe that.

Forgiveness is the farce behind the concept of self-realization. The recently departed Dr. Randy Pausch had a term for things such as this: head fake. It has nothing to do with forgiveness. It is simply an innate, sadly misnamed, misused, and misunderstood tool that enables us to look at ourselves and hold ourselves to the standards that God instills in us. To treat forgiveness so disrespectfully does not shed a brighter light on us. It casts a bigger shadow. Besides I believe we are so connected to God that he/she/it/they will know immediately if we genuinely feel badly for something we did or said. Forgiveness, for lack of a better word, is given automatically. It is part of unconditional love that God has for us. I always tell people they don’t have to admit it to me, but at least admit the truth to themselves. Be honest. When we become one with ourselves we become one with God at the same time. Easier said then done, huh? I have been cursed out, thrown out, hit, and ridiculed for telling someone the truth about themselves. Wrong doing is like a lie and only the truth can set us free from this cycle of lies centered around the “forgivable” nature of humanity.