Forgiveness

During my career, I’ve had many instances in which I could have fed my anger, acted vengefully and refused to forgive the actions of others, but I’ve learned that when you can’t let go and forgive, it’s a total waste of your time and you only damage yourself.

I’m reminded of the story about a Native American grandfather who once said to his grandson, “I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one.”

“Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?” the grandson asked.

“The one I feed,” answered the grandfather.

What we give energy to is what we feed. Some people might ask, how is it possible to feed forgiveness and not anger? I look to people like Desmond Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his work to end apartheid and create a just Africa. After all the cruelty he endured, he still found it within himself to forgive. “I must forgive,” he explained, “so that my desire for revenge does not corrode my being.”

Excerpt from 'LifeManual' by Peter H. Thomas. www.lifemanual.com. Copyright 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.

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