Accept it! The past is perfect

I had a very interesting exchange this morning – on Facebook, of all places. I was trying to make the point that I believe it is possible to come to an awareness of total acceptance for all people and events so as to make forgiveness unnecessary. Wow – did I ever create a firestorm of emotions?

My thought is based in the idea that the past is complete; it is perfect as it is. The Latin root for the word perfect means “finish,” as in done. So, if I simply accept that fact, what am I forgiving?

If I accept things as they have been, then I find no reason to drag them behind me until such time as I decide to forgive. It also seems to me that by living in acceptance I tend to eliminate the feelings of hurt or being wronged that precipitate the need to forgive in the first place.

In the Facebook stream I was handed the example of extreme violence. Since part of the acceptance piece is to know that everything that happens in my life, regardless appearances, is serving my highest and best interests, I’m sure you can guess the response to that brilliant idea.

But, the truth is, the key words in that sentence are “regardless appearances.” That’s where we get hung up. How can a violent attack serve my highest and best interests?

I do not know! Nor do you or are you likely to – at least not right away.

People want that good pointed out to them right now – immediately. It rarely works that way.

How many times have we all heard someone who has suffered a great deal proclaim what a blessing in disguise their suffering turned out to be? So often our greatest pain turns out to be our greatest gift, but more often than not the gift is presented way down the road.

So again, I come back to acceptance. Accept that your good is always being served and release the need to know what that good is and when it is arriving. If you simply trust the process and surrender to the inevitability of good in your life, you will not be disappointed.