paravanes:meditations

Often, we are told, in the name of being obedient or “good”, to forgive and forget. What does this really mean, and is it possible to truly forgive and forget? I suppose that depends upon what you are forgiving and forgetting. If you are forgiving and forgetting someone cutting you off in traffic, or taking the parking place you were going for in a busy lot, maybe you can forgive and forget that. What happens when we consider something on a larger scale? You or a family member or close friend becomes the victim of a violent crime. A doctor misdiagnoses you, and now you face a deeply rooted serious illness. Your spouse abandons you without reason, and your personal and financial life is devastated. You are unfairly fired from the job you badly needed. You are the victim of domestic abuse, or, more accurately, home violence. You leave your home one day with only what you can carry. Yes, I believe you can work on forgiving the person or persons responsible...

Early in 2013, I switched gyms and worked with a trainer who helped me put together a program that led to a huge increase in my fitness level throughout the year. I also spent some time reading exercise and strength training books and articles. I found several principles about working out and exercising that made it easier for me to understand why I needed do to the things I needed to do. Some of the principles are: “You must become comfortable with being uncomfortable.” “You must do what you do not always enjoy doing.” “You must get enough rest; relax, and reward yourself for accomplishing a major goal.” “What you eat and drink---food---will determine what you are capable of doing.” More and more, these principles seemed to also have a spiritual application. 1 Corinthians 9:24, etc., says it this way: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in t...