Post by debe on May 14, 2007 11:01:52 GMT -5
How Heavy Is Your Bag?
One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag
and a sack of potatoes. For every person we'd refuse to forgive
in our life experience, we were told to choose a potato, write
on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of
our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy.
We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one
week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when
driving, next to our desk at work.
The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a
weight we were carrying spiritually, and how we had to pay
attention to it all the time to not forget, and keep leaving it
in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes
deteriorated to a nasty slime.
This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our
pain and heavy negativity! Too often we think of forgiveness as
a gift to the other person, but it clearly is for ourselves as
much as anyone!!
So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask
yourself...Isn't your bag heavy enough?
Author Unknown
One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag
and a sack of potatoes. For every person we'd refuse to forgive
in our life experience, we were told to choose a potato, write
on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of
our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy.
We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one
week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when
driving, next to our desk at work.
The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a
weight we were carrying spiritually, and how we had to pay
attention to it all the time to not forget, and keep leaving it
in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes
deteriorated to a nasty slime.
This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our
pain and heavy negativity! Too often we think of forgiveness as
a gift to the other person, but it clearly is for ourselves as
much as anyone!!
So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask
yourself...Isn't your bag heavy enough?
Author Unknown