It’s impossible to live a life without affecting others, both in positive and negative ways.
How many ill-advised words have I spoken, or encouraging words left unsaid? How many actions that unintentionally hurt others, or actions I should have taken but didn’t, can be contained in one life? I don’t know. But many.
No doubt, most of us try to be good. Try to be kind.
And even then, there are times I wish I had done things differently—been more patient, more generous, more loving. Times I wish I had offered empathy instead of criticism.
So I began thinking about forgiveness and the power of forgiving.
When we forgive, we let go. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaches us about forgiveness: “Learning to forgive is much more useful than merely picking up a stone and throwing it at the object of one’s anger, the more so when the provocation is extreme. For it is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.”
Tonight, as the sun melts into the endless waters that embrace our beautiful Jeju Island, I carry this intention with me:
To forgive.
To ask for forgiveness.
To let the tide carry away what no longer serves.
Forgive Me (Hawk Björn)
Forgive me
I’ve said something untrue
Forgive me
Done something I can’t undo
Well, I know my flaws
Pain I’ve caused
I see it now
As long as I live
Must forgive
Myself somehow
Forgive me
My heart is open wide
Forgive me
I’ve put my pride aside
Forgive me
For words I didn’t mean
Forgive me
I pray you hear my plea
And I see my flaws
Pain I’ve caused
And made offense
Well, I’m just a man
Trying the best I can
To make amends
Forgive me
My heart is open wide
Forgive me
There’s nowhere left to hide
How we all make mistakes
Steal the peace we didn’t mean to take
And say things that cause heartbreak
But we all can be free
Of the guilt with all its misery
Forgiveness is the key
Forgive me
The world is open wide
Forgive me
I’m always on your side
Forgive me
My heart is open wide
Forgive me
There’s nowhere left to hide
Forgive me
My heart is open wide
Forgive me
I’m always by your side
