Forgiveness means so many different things to each of us. However we understand forgiveness, however we approach forgiveness, it is never easy. In fact, for most of us it is the greatest spiritual struggle of our lives. Sue Monk Kidd expressed it this way- “If God said in plain language, ‘I’m giving you a choice, forgive or die,’ a lot of people would go ahead and order their coffin.”
Perhaps forgiveness might be a tiny bit easier if we focus on teshuvah, on looking within and acknowledging our own faults and the many ways in which have failed to be our best selves? There is an irony in the fact that as we move ourselves into the seat of judgment, we move God and others into the place of compassion.
The truth will set us free. This is the time to truthfully, ruthlessly, look within, acknowledging our own imperfection and our own need for forgiveness. May the sound of the shofar arouse our spirits as we enter this holiest season.
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