ON FORGIVING https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=ejRCmYFzgoI&u=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Du0kYf9KG9QA%26feature%3Dshare Forgiving –such an all-encompassing word; full of meaning for the “forgiver”; and yet; rather meaningless. I was listening to one of my favourite recordings of Willy Nelson –“Forgiving You Was Easy”; when I got thinking about the real meaning of forgiving; and who benefits; if anyone –of this “gift”. We hear this word often bandied about; sometimes casually, sometimes as a request; like the quintessential Canadian “sorry”; or the more formal “forgive me.” On the other side of this verbal chasm is the person who has lost someone to a murderous villain; but then is filmed as saying “I forgive him” when the perpetrator is sentenced –in some cases to die. Who is the beneficiary of this gratuitous forgiveness? Not likely the “forgiven” offender. No; if there is one; it is the “forgiver” who is struggling to adjust to the terrible loss caused by the perpetrator. “Forgiveness” in this sense; then; is more like deciding to not let the memory of the offence define ones future life; which I presume; is a worthwhile goal in itself, though it does not wipe the slate clean; nor expurgate it from memory and emotions. Forgiveness has been a major tenet of the Christian religion; from the banality of the Catholic priest in the confession booth forgiving all and sundry so they can go and sin some more; to the repenter asking God directly, through prayer, for forgiveness for his or hers transgressions; thus eliminating the stressful task of facing up to the offence and the offended. God will take care of that. No matter how derelict or deranged is your life; God will look after you if you only ask –if not in this life; then afterwards. All you have to do is believe. It might be useful to remove the word “forgive” from ones vocabulary all together; and replace it with “responsibility” for the aggressor, and “peace” for the wounded. And while we are at it; let’s eliminate all religion. It would go a long way towards “Peace on Earth.” But I am not holding my breath.