The following is an excerpt of an article I recently came across on The Journey with Jesus – Notes to Myself Weekly Essays (website) by Daniel B. Clendenin, PhD.:

Should Americans forgive the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks? I’ve been wondering about a possible parallel scenario.

Could you or should you forgive Dr. Mengele, the Nazi “angel of death?”

That question haunted Eva Kor, who tells her remarkable story in the documentary film Forgiving Dr. Mengele (2007).  Eva and her twin sister Miriam spent ten months in Auschwitz. Along with many other twins, they were separated from their families and subjected to Mengele’s horrific “medical” experiments.  After liberation by the Soviets when she was ten-years old, and then ten years in Israel, Eva relocated to Terre Haute, Indiana in 1960 and raised a family.

Eva returned to Auschwitz for the first time in 1995 for the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the camps, and on that occasion she did the unthinkable.  She read aloud her personal “official declaration of amnesty” to Mengele and the Nazis.  To be liberated from the Nazis was not enough, she said; she needed to be released from the pain of the past.  To extend forgiveness without any prerequisites required of the perpetrators, said Eva, was an “act of self-healing.” Through the act of “forgiving your worst enemy” Eva said that she experienced “the feeling of complete freedom from pain.”  Many Jews were outraged by her act.

In the lectionary readings this week, Jesus and Joseph commend the healing power of forgiveness.

Joseph believed that God had a larger providential purpose for Israel beyond the private wrongs he had suffered at the hands of his brothers: “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20).  At least four times he reassures his nervous brothers, “it was not you who sent me to Egypt, but God” (Genesis 45:5, 7, 8, 9).  The story concludes: “Joseph reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

And in the gospel for this week, Peter asked Jesus, “how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Forgiving someone seven times is generous in the extreme, but Jesus upped the ante and expanded the arithmetic of forgiveness.

 
Jesus told an outlandish parable about an “unmerciful servant” who received forgiveness for his own enormous debt, but then instead of extending forgiveness for a tiny debt that he was owed, he imprisoned his debtor.  In the kingdom of God that Jesus announced, he instructed us to forgive not merely seven times, but seventy-seven times, or seventy times seven.  The forgiveness that characterizes his kingdom is beyond calculation or comprehension.

Jesus also linked receiving forgiveness to offering forgiveness. He established a law of proportionality.  We can expect divine forgiveness in the measure that we extend human forgiveness: “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from the heart.”  Similarly, in the Lord’s Prayer we ask God to “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”  Our own sense of the need of forgiveness is the basis upon which we freely forgive others.  We can only long for ourselves what we lavish upon others.

Forgiveness of this magnitude finds its basis not only in our own sense of need but, even more sure and certain, in the character of God himself as a fundamentally forgiving God.  Paul writes, “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).  And in this week’s epistle: “Accept one another, just as God has accepted you” (Romans 14:1, 15:7).

Frederic Luskin, co-founder of Stanford University’s “Forgiveness Project,” says that forgiveness “reduces anger, hurt, depression and stress and leads to greater feelings of optimism, hope, compassion and self confidence.”  Luskin has conducted numerous workshops and research projects on forgiveness.  He’s worked with a wide variety of people in corporate, medical, legal and religious settings.  In his book Forgive for Good, Luskin elucidates what Eva Kor experienced and what Joseph and Jesus taught, that in forgiving we can become “heroes instead of victims in the stories we tell.”

This excerpt above is by Daniel B. Clendenin, Ph.D. and is reprinted from http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20110905JJ.shtml

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More thoughts and quotes on forgiveness I’ve collected from various sources:

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds
on the heel that has crushed it.” – Mark Twain

To forgive is to set a prisoner free
and to discover that the prisoner was you.
- Lewis Smedes

“The weak can never forgive.
Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
- Gandhi

Never does the human soul appear so strong
as when it forgoes revenge
and dares to forgive an injury.
- Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Forgive all who have offended you; not for them, but for yourself. 
- Harriet Nelson

“He who is devoid of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Forgiveness is the sweetest revenge.” – Isaac Friedmann

There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness. – Josh Billings

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Note: For more perspectives on reconsidering 911, please see my initial post on this topic here: http://unleashyourinnerstrength.com/2010/09/21/reconsidering-911/ 

- Eric Falcon

This latest video I’ve created is an aid for practicing the culvitation of joy and gratitude in your heart…the most powerful and direct means to a fulfilling and successful life.

As you watch this video, focus on fully experiencing in your body the empowering emotions that the pictures and images invoke.  Oh, and repeated practice gives the best results.

May your life be blessed with good health, happiness, and much love.

- Eric Falcon
The “Inner Strength” Coach™

Best regards,

- Eric Falcon
The “Inner Strength” Coach™

Note: This comes from the classic film “It’s A Wonderful Life,” by Frank Capra.

**Please see my text in my previous post, “Celebrate Your Victory In Advance, Part 1″

What are your most important desires, wishes or needs at the present time?

Well, whatever your wishes or desires may be, here’s a unique psychological tool that can help you acquire them:

Celebrate your victories in advance!

What do I mean by this?

Begin to practice feeling in your body the way you would feel if you had the circumstances or personal qualities which you desired or wished for already.

I call this the “I Already Have It, I Already Am It” mentality or technique.

Here’s a brief exercise to help you implement this – it’ll take just a few seconds:

Use your *imagination* to travel ahead out into the future – travel far enough out so that you can come to a stop just beyond the point in time when what you desire has already occurred or has already been achieved.

From this future vantage point in time, turn around now and look back, behind you, in your mind’s eye…

…see that the outcome, goal, or desire which you had been desperately seeking has already come to pass.

Now here’s the most valuable step.

Cultivate inside of yourself the feeling of knowing that you already have the outcome or goal which you desire!

How happy would you be knowing that you have attained your goal?

Feel that happiness now ahead of time inside yourself…!

How grateful would you be knowing that you have achieved your outcome?

Feel that gratitude now ahead of time…!

How much elation and exhilaration would you feel knowing that you now have what you desire?

Feel that elation and exhilaration inside your body now…!

How excited would you be and how much would you celebrate?

Feel that excitement now and celebrate like that now…!

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As you watch this video collage I assembled, pay attention to the feelings that the images and film clips invoke in you…

I encourage you to maintain and cultivate those feelings in yourself throughout the weeks to come…

Additionally, use the wonderful mental gift that God gave you, called your *imagination*, to create additional images in your mind’s eye of the desirable circumstances, goals, and victories that you seek after. See and feel them from the perspective of having already received them and having already experienced them…

And…see and feel yourself celebrating your victories in advance…!

By regularly cultivating strong emotions of joy, victoriousness, and gratitude inside yourself…you are activating the law of attraction…and you are in the process of drawing into your life positive circumstances and events that are in resonance with the positive emotional states that you cultivate inside yourself consistently.

‘The law of attraction’ is both a metaphysical and a spiritual principle that has been studied and written about for millennia, as well as taught by many spiritual teachers and scholars.

Put simply, our thoughts, beliefs, and feelings affect our surroundings and affect our lives…

…but feelings have the potential for the greatest effects by far among these three; hence they’re what I focus on the most in my life, whenever I want to achieve a certain outcome, desire, or goal.

The best of success and happiness to you,

Eric Falcon
The “Inner Strength” Coach™

I recommend repeated viewings for best results.

Best of success and happiness to you!

- Eric Falcon
“Unleash Your Inner Strength!”

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Eric Falcon’s Affirmations for Time Management Excellence:

I have superb time management and life management skills.

I cherish my time…and I know how valuable each moment is.  I seek to make the best use of my time each day.

I use my time wisely, effectively, and efficiently – at home and at work, and in all aspects of my life.

I prepare appropriately for my upcoming commitments and appointments.

I’m a highly productive person, in my work and personal life. 

I also live a well-balanced life; and I take time to properly care for my body, mind, and spirit.

I take sufficient time for rest and renewal.

I sharpen and hone my mental focus and concentration skills.

Also, I maintain high levels of motivation and inspiration…by cultivating gratitude and optimism.

I exhibit excellence in all aspects of time management – including prioritizing, preparing, punctuality, efficiency, and organizing.

I minimize distractions and dilly-dallying.

I put first things first in my life…I avoid time-wasting and low priority activities.

I’m a master of my time and personal affairs.

I show up prepared and on time for my commitments and appointments.

I’m so grateful to God for blessing me with sharp mental focus, as well as with inner poise, and self-confidence.

I also take pride in my good habits of preparedness, punctuality, and productiveness.  These constructive habits grow stronger in me each day.

I frequently review and recall my commitments and my tasks. 

I order my tasks according to priority…whenever necessary…from highest to lowest.

I start with my highest and higher priority tasks first… ahead of my lower priority tasks.

I know that many of my lower priority tasks often need not get done at all.

I’m appropriately prepared for my commitments and appointments.

I arrive on time…and I often arrive even five minutes early…for my commitments and appointments.

I’m thrilled to see what a prepared and punctual person that I’ve become, and that I am.

I’m delighted by my excellent time management skills, and I take special pride in this area of my life.

More and more…two of my strongest personal traits are my punctuality and my preparedness.

I’m someone who is punctual…and prepared.

I continuously improve my time management and personal management skills.

 I get better each day, at managing my time wisely and effectively.

More and more, I feel an abundance of energy, motivation, and inspiration to accomplish my high priority tasks and projects.

I make a habit of accomplishing my important tasks in an efficient and rapid manner.

I’m quick and efficient at the things I do.  I move swiftly and effectively, with whatever speed is necessary, to accomplish things well and appropriately.

I move with speed and swiftness as appropriate, for each situation.

I’m a well-prepared and punctual person.

I have a reputation among others as someone who shows up on time and prepared, for my commitments, appointments, and obligations.

I take sufficient time for relaxing, renewing, and rejuvenating, when necessary and appropriate.

I’m a highly effective and productive person. 

I thank God for blessing me with habits of productivity and effectiveness, which grow stronger each day.

I work hard and I work smart.

I’m aware of how precious each moment of time is, and I seek to make wise use of my time.

I am truly an exceptional time manager.

I’m focused and poised.

I give my full attention to the things I do, while also maintaining an appropriate amount of situational awareness regarding things around me, as well as upcoming important events and circumstances.

When appropriate, I work in blocks of time during which I stay focused and concentrated on the task at hand. 

I take sufficient breaks from my work; and I make adequate time for rest and renewal.

I regularly get a good night’s sleep. 

In the mornings, I wake up refreshed and relaxed, ready to start another day. 

I feel myself filled with energy and enthusiasm throughout the day.

I cultivate fulfilling and satisfying friendships and relationships with others.

The social encounters and interactions that I experience are enriching, satisfying, and fulfilling, for myself and for all others with whom I interact.

I have excellent interpersonal skills, which I seek to continuously refine and improve.

All parts of my self and my life are integrated, well-balanced, and unified – including my mind, body, emotions, and spirit.

I release, and I allow the full resolution of, any and all potential inner conflicts.

The inner child in me has been fully healed.

All elements of both my conscious and unconscious minds have been integrated and unified.

All aspects of my personality, mind, and self…work together with a common and singular focus and purpose.

I’m an integrated and self-actualized person, and one who knows where I’m going in life.

I’m clear on the purpose of my life and my life’s major intentions…which include to grow spiritually, to improve where I can personally, and to contribute to the lives of others, in meaningful ways.

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Background Music Information:
Song 1: I Will Be Here (in the style of Gary Valenciano), Instrumental
Song 2: Lord I Lift Your Name On High (by Rick Founds), Instrumental

It’s not about “how hard you are hit” by the things in your life…it’s really not!

It’s about “how hard you can get hit…and keep movin’ forward…”

Take a moment to consider people who’ve been dealt serious challenges in their lives like Helen Keller, Franklin D. Roosevelt, or Wilma Rudolph.

These inspirational people, and countless other not-so-famous ones, overcame the “hits” which life and fate dealt them…and they kept on going, despite it all.

They kept on persevering…and striving to give their best…and attempting to become the best woman or man that they possibly could become…despite being dealt serious physical challenges.

Whether you’re (‘so-called’) young or old…whether the challenges in your life are new ones, or long-standing ones… let the words that are spoken in this video clip sink into your soul. They’re being spoken to you.

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Strength to Keep Moving Forward In Life:

One of the things I attempt to do daily to cultivate spiritual strength is to spend a small amount of time in quiet meditation.

I encourage you to do the same.

5 – 15 minutes a day will do just fine; spend longer if you wish, and when you have the time.

And then, learn to “get out of your own way,” as the saying goes….

Because there’s a power and an ‘inner strength’ within you, which is innate to every life form… that wants to keep on living…that wants to keep enjoying the experience of life….that seeks to keep growing…and to keep deepening in character…

These things that I just mentioned by the way, are the things that the phrase “keep moving forward” encompasses, to me.

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The two most fulfilling aims you can have in your life are 1. constant personal growth, along with 2. service to others.

We’re here both to receive and to give.

We’re here to receive the good things, as well as the growth experiences, which life has to provide us and offer us…

And we’re here to give back to life as well…to contribute to the lives of others.

That’s the two-fold personal philosophy that I live my life by – I encourage you to adopt it as well.

One final tip – learn to view every so-called problem, difficulty, painful experience, and setback which you encounter in your life…as a “challenge.”

In my vocabulary, the only word I ever use now to label a difficulty is the word “challenge.”

ALL challenges we face in our lives…can serve as MEANS for furthering our personal growth, our level of wisdom, and our maturity…as well as for expanding our capacity for compassion and understanding, which we can then extend in useful service towards others.

I know you’re capable of this. It’s inside you!!

“The spark divine dwells in thee: let it grow.” – Ella Wheeler Wilcox

- Eric Falcon

The Inner Strength Coach(TM)

Notes: Helen Keller was deaf and blind, yet she became a respected author, inspirational lecturer, and activist. Wilma Rudolph and Franklin Roosevelt were both markedly stricken by polio; she in childhood and he at age 39. She went on to win three Olympic gold medals and he went on to become a US President.

Listen as Francine Ward, a powerful self image and esteem coach, explains her unique philosophy on life.

Listen to Francine Ward explain the importance of not seeing yourself as a victim, but rather an independent and powerful person.