Power of Forgiveness

In 1986 I went to Russia with one of my spiritual teachers, Alexander
Everett. We were called Citizen Ambassadors, and our trip was called
"Journey to the Heart of Russia".  

While on that trip I had an experience which demonstrated the power of
forgiveness. I had taken several workshops with Alexander, and it bothered
me that he did not remember my name.  

Before the trip, I was attending one of his workshops, and he took me to
lunch after I quickly raised my hand when he asked who wanted to go with
him on this trip to Russia.  Then he quickly seemed to forget me.  It
annoyed me that he didn't seem to know or acknowledge me. I didn't like the
feeling of being 'ignored'.

During the trip we started each morning in meditation. We had 3 leaders,
Alexander, Beverly Hutchinson, and Alan Cohen.  One morning Beverly was
leading us in a meditation from the Course in Miracles about forgiveness. 
As I was meditating I asked who it was important to forgive.  Alexander's
image came to me immediately.  I fully accepted that it was time to forgive,
and I said gently within "OK, I am ready to fully forgive.  I let go of all
negative feelings about Alexander."

As I walked out of the meditation room and into the lobby, Alexander came
over to me and put his arm around me. He asked, "How are you this morning
Bonnie?"  I was surprised!

Alexander never forgot my name after that, and for years we were in touch. 
I visited his farm in Oregon and attended more of his workshops.  I was
talking to his local organizer Louis after I returned from the trip to
Russia.  When I told Louis about my experience he called it a 'miracle'. 
Alexander rarely remembered people or called them by name.

Forgiveness freed me of my negative emotions, and also made possible a
better relationship with my spiritual teacher.

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

Maybe he was just bad with names? I certainly am, and cannot remember a name well until I've been around the person a while and said it several times. On the subject of forgiveness, that is something we all benefit from if we're capable of doing it. I've told myself before, "You need to forgive that person. Just let it go", but then feel no difference inside myself until much time has passed. Maybe I eventually sort of forget about it.

[Bonnie]

Thanks for your review Samuel. He was bad with names and acknowledged it. I thought it was interesting that he always remembered me and my name after that. It could have been 'coincidence' that it happened after I forgave him, however my experiences in life lead me to believe that there are no 'coincidences' only 'synchronicity'.

There have been times when I had to forgive the same person many times until it really happened deep with me. That is when I noticed the difference.