Forgiveness #2 - Fire Within

Written by Marubian Affinii

Of the 7 deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain your are given and the pain you are giving back -in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.

An injury, such as a bruised and twisted ankle, produces inflammation (swelling) and heat, which is why we put an ice pact on it. Infection, exposure to toxins, and other types of trauma produce inflammation as well. According to NCI "chronic inflammation appears to contribute to tumor (growth) of different cancers. Further, "people who regularly take anti inflammatory medication (Advil, Ibuprofen, Nurofen, etc) are less vulnerable to cancer than people who do not. It would appear that, in many situations, if you can control the inflammation, you can control the disease.s Ice for a swollen ankle. Antibiotics for a sinus infection. But what can you put on an injured, wounded, angry heart? We suggest cooling the internal fire with forgiveness.

When we look at competition, at the heart of it is the desire to strive and struggle, to push back against anything that might force us to settle for second best, anything that might compromise our dreams, goals, ideals, health , or values. The same desire lies at the heart of forgiveness.

This series is for those who refuse to allow their lives to be destroyed by anger, hatred, or revenge- the fire within. It's for anyone who chooses to run the narrow road reserved for the elite, those who strive to be the best they can be. It applies to everyone who desires to be the best person; the best athlete; the best Christian, etc; the best parent or friend alive; the best of what it means to be a human being. Most important, it addresses the core needs of everyone who desires to be the best after;

• After you've been treated unfairly.

• After you've been abused or hurt.

• After your good name has been slandered.

• After your marriage has shipwrecked.

• After your heart has been broken by meanness and betrayal.

• After you have been victimized by friend or foe.

• After you've been tortured or traumatized.

• After your physician has stolen your hope.

If you want your joyful, happy life back, after these sorts of things, you must follow in the footsteps of those rare people who refuse to quit, who choose to regain the happiness their pain has taken away. Top athletes may seem like a distinct species from the rest of us, but they also represent what's possible in each of us. "They set lofty goals, then push themselves, trying and testing every tool, technique, and method to stay motivated.

Elite athletes seem to have one thing in common: the strong desire to excel. Cancer patients have their own elite class too. Would you be surprised if I told you that the patients who are most likely to engage in the forgiveness are usually pretty exceptional people? They are otherwise normal people who, for whatever personal reason , have a certain drive, desire, and relentless ability to identify a goal and reach it. These patients explore every opportunity to find healing for their bodies. They are willing to struggle, because there is no other way to beat the competition or the odds.

You can imagine the courage it takes or some people to sit before a stranger a unknown pastor like me, for example and seek the healing that only forgiveness can offer. It's a triumph of the human spirit to even try to heal a painful past! But these few brave ones who, for their own reasons and in their own ways, are overachieving, pushing themselves beyond the norm, yearning and struggling for a peace that one eluded them, have chose to battle the years of complacency and to settle no more.

Shedding their anger and hatred, these exceptional people seek to regain balance, wholeness, and joy in their lives through forgiveness.. As the Bible reminds us, and we do well to remember, "In a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Now for those who journey of survivor-ship came by way of cancer, the forgiveness educational series attempts to answer the question of whether there is a relationship between cancer and un-forgiveness. Everyone knows that anger and hatred often destroy our families, marriages, and communities, but can these raw emotions have equally destructive consequences (including cancer) for our physical well-being? And if so, can forgiveness help heal the disease? We intend to show that, yes, there is a relationship between cancer and un-forgiveness.

Next, although research suggests that "emotional forgiveness can be achieved using a variety of therapeutic interventions. We are about you gaining insights instead of taking steps.

In closing, we want to appeal to those who are open to explore the mysterious and unpredictable spiritual aspects of life, wherein the healing and peace we find is experienced as a gift from God. Our healing is a result of our willingness to regain balance in our lives, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I intend to show that God moves within the heart that is willing to forgive.

Is this series only for the religious? No. And if you're not particularly religious, I hope that our extraordinary religious experiences don't keep you from giving serious consideration to my conclusions. Rest assured that my religious views will be expressed with sensitivity to the fact that you may not share my beliefs. I am not trying to convert anyone to my faith. But to the extent that you share my Christian beliefs, this series may helpfully inform your understanding of the Gospel.

To be sure Christianity does not have a cornerstone on forgiveness Pain, anger, and needless suffering know no boundary and are shared by people of every age, race, and creed. People without faith in God can and do discover the ability to forgive; but it is fair to say that every religion I have examined, including my own, highly values forgiveness, suggesting that, for many , the experience of forgiveness is a journey into the very hear of God.