Repentance and Redemption are daily occurrences. And if they are not, something is wrong. Only the most narcissistic people can go through an entire day without examining their behavior.
Repentance and redemption can only be experienced when one is completely honest with themselves, as brutal as that may be. Redemption has to do with the restoration of the spirit. But not many people realize what repentance is. They may think it means feeling genuinely sorry for somethng, and that is part of it. But repentance actually means to change. The desire to change for the better and the effort to do so restores us back to spiritual, emotional and physical health.
Forgiveness also is an absolute intrinsic part of repentance and redemption. We have to forgive others and give them the chance to change. We also have to help them restore themselves (an us) back to health. And we have to learn how to forgive ourselves. And perhaps that is the hardest part of all.
Everyone makes mistakes, gets hurt, hurts others. The lessons a person learns can be tough, hard and painful. But one can be allowed to repent and be redeemed. And those who are kind enough to restore a person reminds one of what is most important: The main element in repentance and redemption is Love.
And the power of love is the thing that makes us fall down and weep and reach deep into ourselves to find that innocent and trusting child we all once were before the world took us by the arms and slung us around in the dirt and muck, causing that beautiful creature inside of us to seek cover and hide.
That child never dies, but it does get buried in fear, cynicism, dishonesty or anger. But we can all find that child inside of us again and slowly coax it out of hiding and back into the light.
It always seems to happen when we weep. Perhaps you have heard the expression, "reduced to tears." There is more in that saying than we know. What is reduced is that jaded, hard-crusted exterior we build around ourselves. What is exposed is not only who we are under the skin, but who we really should be.
When someone reaches out to you seeking forgiveness and redemption, they wish to find-together with you-a peaceful place. That is the moment in which they weep. That is the moment in which we love.
© Alexander Frey, 2007
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