When is the past passed?

Cal:  This is a great post.  Very deep.  And what you share here is very, very true.  It is also, however, almost... or maybe even completely impossible for some folks to "forgive" certain things that have been done to them... depending, of course, on what it was.

Sure... failing to forgive can cause one to never be free to live in the present.  I understand.  I would also love to win the Miss Universe Contest, see the Cleveland Indians win the World Series again (last time was 1948) or see President Obama re-elected in 2012.  Unfortunately, some things like these are a little hard to pull off.

By the way... I love the two pictures you have chosen for this post.  Very appropriate.     "suggested"

The only way to succeed is to acknowledge any mistake you make. Do what it takes to not repeat the mistake again and live life again. Dwelling on the past never helps anyone. All you can do is take a good hard look at tomorrow and know you can do better, then do it.

Cal,

I've heard it said, "forgiveness is giving up all hope of a better past."

Great post,

Steve

Cal,

This is such an excellent and meaningful post worthy of a feature. I had to click suggest and I hope it gets featured. It's a topic rarely talked about in business. Why do people love to play judge and jury? When mistakes are made, it's easy to point the finger and express your thoughts and opinions. However, when it's a crime, even I find myself saying, "it's unforgivable." But who am I to judge?

Cal, your words cut through me like a knife. How you explain what forgiveness is and what it's not is deep. I've never heard it explained this way before. Thank you Cal, I will not forget your lesson on forgiveness.

So many people carry a grudge and some take it to their graves. Nobody deserves that. Why do people carry the burden of anger, grief, and revenge and why can't they let it go? Maybe it's because they don't understand the paradox, so wisely explained and illustrated with such great photography as you have done.

Keep writing Cal. Your words need to be heard.

Cal:  There are so many different personality types.  Some can obviously "let go" and forgive, and some others cannot.  I do know that there are varying degrees of "wrongs" that have been done to a person... and again, some fade away more easily, and some rip your heart out of your chest and put it in a food processor... and then hit "high."

I have a Psych degree.  I can intuit all the reasons why what you suggest really does make sense.  But... and of course, for many... there always IS a but... but some things leave a person feeling unalterably and irreparably "broken."  Where do you go with that ?

I think Mr. Vick has paid for his crime criminally, but as for forgiveness, I think he actually has to take steps to show regret before the public will forgive him. 

Cal, this is such a great post. We must forgive ourselves for what we percieve as our own transgressions and short comings. Without that we cannot move on, forward. I struggle with this, and have all my life. Many of us were raised with the notion that forgiveness does not start within of ourselves.

You are featured in the Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul group.

Cal,

Your message is very well received and understood.  Thank you for passing it on!

Cal, this is a great post that I will feature here in spiritualrain group.

At first I thought you were talking about the usage of the words 'past' and 'passed' :) . . . but what a beautiful post, Cal.  Especially about the art of forgiveness and Michael Vick.  I have a daughter who always says, "Of course I would give them a second chance.  What if people only ever remembered me from when I was 16?"  Wise words . . . wonderful post.

I don't mind society giving people like Michael Vick a second chance, but that doesn't mean that I have to fall in line lock, stock, and barrel.  As an example, a few other people who lost me include Michael Jackson and Kobe Bryant.

Take it to the cross. Most of the time we are angry or hurt because we do not feel that we deserve such treatment. And I am certainly not saying that we do. But the fact is, each and every one of us has treated our Creator much worse than we could ever be treated on this earth... yet He still made us. He loved us before the foundations of the earth -- knowing EVERY wrong we would ever do, every evil thought, our deepest and darkest secrets. Even when we hated him... He loved us.  The only way to learn how to forgive is to be forgiven.... and even then, we have to take it to the cross.

Great words to wake up to on a Friday morning... Thanks Cal!