On the Importance of Perseverance when Forgiving
Many people get quite excited about forgiveness at first and just dive into practicing it, only to lose interest after a few months. They literally just let it fade from their minds and hearts as they go on to the next popular diversion in life. In other words, they do not have a strong will to keep forgiveness before them as a practice and as a way of seeing the world.
This could happen to you. A commitment to forgive does not just mean a short-term commitment toward one person who has hurt you in one particular way. Commitment has a must longer reach than this. Would you become physically fit if you worked out several times a week for three months and then hung it all up? Of course not. It is the same with forgiveness. You have to fight against the tendency to just let it fade in you. You will have to fight against all of the distractions of life that call you away from it.
Robert
This is so true. I see it in myself all the time. For example, I get very interested in a particular website and after about 10 visits I fade out and try another. On it goes even with the new site that was my excuse for leaving the first one. Attention spans are challenged by so much variety out there. I think it weakens the will.
Blaise Pascal in the 17th century was one of the first to diagnose this disease of the short attention span. He talked about diversion almost as a sickness because it prevented us from confronting the truly meaningful issues of life. Centuries later it appears as if this disease is still with us. Being aware of it is part of the battle to defeat this disease. Then doing something about it is another important part. May we avoid the incessant quest for diversion.
The blog post after this is an excellent example of why we all should persevere in forgiving. We might get hurt by a partner. No need to hold back love as the supposed “expert” claimed. instead, have forgiveness at the ready to counter the pain of a failed relationship. This will only be effective if one is practiced at forgiveness.