Who We Are

Letting Go of the Poison

My Dear People,

A wise woman years ago told me that holding onto resentment, i.e., not forgiving someone, is like eating rat poison and expecting the rat to die.

I was reminded of those wise if sassy words while reading a little essay on forgiveness by the late José Hobday, a Native American and a Franciscan nun. José tells the story of her Seneca grandmother, who said,

"Do not be ignorant and stupid and inhuman as they are. Go to an elder and ask for the medicine that will turn your heart from bitterness to sweetness. You must learn the wisdom of how to let go of poison."

Reflecting on her grandmother's wisdom, José writes,

"Each recall asks for forgiveness, and you stay in the power of that act until you let go...No one, no memory, should have the power to hold us down, to deny us peace.  Forgiving is the real power."

In this Lenten season, may we learn still more deeply the wisdom of how to let go of poison, may we learn and live into the power of forgiveness. 

For the sake of others, yes.  And for our own sake as well.

Your brother in Christ,

Wallace+

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