Our ego can definitely get us all in trouble, and as we continue to talk about the book, A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle, he spends a great deal of time explaining the dangers of our ego, which I agree messes us up more times than we can count.

We live in a fast-paced world, and I do not have to give you examples of that to prove my point. Many of us even find it difficult to spend time with the Lord at the beginning of each day (remember that New Year’s promise to God) and then we come to Him exhausted at the end of the day, falling asleep with the Bible in hand. We are told by Tolle that we are to non-react and that non-reaction is forgiveness. It would be great if we could listen more and not react so quickly.  I am sure the violence in this country would drop some with just this one effort, but not reacting is not forgiveness. We are asked by God to forgive, and we must ask for not only His forgiveness when we do wrong, but we must forgive others. When you have been spoken to harshly or been hurt by another person, is there not a warmth and tenderness in speaking forgiveness rather than non-reacting?

I have had to forgive many times, as I am sure you have as well, but I believe one of the hardest times is when a family member has hurt us. Oh yes.  Do you hold resentment or bitterness towards someone in your family?  Do you sit around the Thanksgiving table and become combative, or do you non-react. Neither is right. You must give the situation to the Lord and forgive. A breath of fresh air will enter your life, and no flower you meditate on, as Tolle writes, nor any other quiet time can compare to the peace that forgiveness brings.   Total Forgiveness