I once witnessed a discussion between two mothers. One mother’s son had lost his life to the other mother’s son’s intentional action. As co-workers in a new ministry of reconciliation, the mothers defined forgiveness as extending grace to cover the ground that could not be made up. The one son had received legal justice and was serving time in prison, but the life of the other son could not be returned, so grace was needed to balance the unrecoverable harm done.

Recently, I heard the story of Lydia, who suffered a brutal assault resulting in a massive stroke. After months of rehabilitation, she regained enough speech to stand and forgive her attacker in court. When asked how and why, she said she could not heal while carrying a burden of unforgiveness. She forgave for personal release. Lydia offered the interviewer a bracelet inscribed with the acronym of her name – “Live Your Days Inspired Anew.”

Those are dramatic examples, but even in ordinary moments an attitude of forgiveness contributes to mutual healing and wholeness. Jesus’ words, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” suggest that a reciprocal spiritual activity occurs within forgiveness. Neil Douglas-Klotz translates Jesus’ Aramaic words like this: “Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt…Forgive our hidden past, the secret shames, as we consistently forgive what others hide … Lighten our load of secret debts as we relieve others of their need to repay … Untangle the knots within so that we can mend our hearts’ simple ties to others …”

I invite each reader to set an intention to “live this day inspired anew” by making liberal use of this wonderful spiritual tool of forgiveness. I invoke the Power, Presence and Intelligence of Cause to burst again through whatever no longer serves to give forth a new, buoyant expression of life. As we see It, we can be it, because we are it!

And so it is.