“To err is human but to forgive is divine". This is a saying that I have always kept close to my heart. I believed in its principle and I truly respected the form of elevating one’s position to such an esteemed level with such a noble act. Yet, there were upon many occasions where I used to sit and wonder why is it such a noble act? How difficult is it to accept an apology of a repentant figure, one that has swallowed all pride and succumbed to the incision of guilt? I mean I’m sure the person begging the pardon is suffering a great deal more shame and pain, in terms of emotionally and if it is a matter of social inclination that is included as well. How then is the forgiver the one that is noble? By opening his heart to a sincere apology? Is it fair to subject them to such judgments? Somehow, the way that I seem to be narrating this issue, I may be portraying that of a defensive side. Well, to be completely honest I have viewed both perspective and seeing the fact that I am after all human, I believe it safe to claim that I bear with me the knowledge of actually being on both sides to furnish me with enough details to deliberate.
The forgiver is seen as the more prominent of the two beings. Seeing that he is willing to overlook the wrong and injustice that has been done to him, he is thus elevated to the status of a divine being. Yes, it remains undeniable that the forgiver has suffered a great deal and perhaps even a loss on his behalf may have been rendered, but how many people have been wronged in life? How many still persist on with their arduous life styles. I don’t mean the imply that people should just grit their teeth and allow their fate and rights to be manipulated by the likes of others all in the name of the existence of apologies, but I do want to show how trivial it does seem, of the pain the forgiver bears when contrasted with that of the forgiven. I am not defending the sins committed or perpetrated by the forgiven, and neither am I condoning it. But, the point that I am so determined to emphasize and point out is merely that the it takes a great deal of courage, strength and inner confidence to actually own up to a mistake and even more to confess to a number of individuals especially if it does mean that embarrassment and humiliation is unavoidable. To know danger and walk into it is courageous but to know humiliation and accept the consequences of emotional torment all in the sake of mending mistakes so that justice and truth prevails is by far more stalwart than any act I have ever had the honor of coming across.
Sometimes I wonder if true human nature comes with sheer oblivion or we just choose to be so ignorant. I find it pretty degrading as I watch acts that naturally command some form of recognition or atleast appreciation in the least go unnoticed. At times, when these commendable acts are just glossed over I console myself that people are just nescient to certain details that done concern them in particular but what truly unearthes surges of anger within me would be the fact that some people have the audacity to slight these acts claiming that they are acts done insincerely or solely performed for selfish reasons. Do these people have any idea how much of pain is involved for a person to swallow his pride and admit shamefully to an act that is incommodious in nature? Of course not. It is however a synch to batter an already broken entity in his time of desperation, isn’t it? Welcome to the sadistic and barbaric world of human nature.
For the sinner, ( I’m not making this any milder than it should be) he endures a possibilty of a lifetime of personal torment as he is held questionable to his heinous acts by his own conscious ( something that every sane mortal should possess, unless of course they have succumbed to the level of animalistic integrity). Could you imagine sleeping at night, when every particle and every inch of your skin screams unease? Could you even conceive the mental fatigue of the culprit as he struggles day in and day out with a conscience that weighs a ton on his shoulders? Or do you think you are capable of fathoming the emotional trauma that somebody could endure when all every fibre of their body is tainted and every move made is calculated a million times because of fear and dereliction? Pretty paradoxical, won’t you agree?
I’m not going to pretend to be a saint and state that I have never held a grudge. Of course I have. But in cases where I know the penance has dutifully been subjected and retribution has made its run, I bear no ill feelings towards them. It would be a greater sin on my part not to accept their flaws. Besides, it doesn’t take much convincing as all I have to do would be to envisage myself it their shoes, and presto! I am able to decipher my next move. After all, I am not as hard-hearted to subject them to such angst and anguish. But not many people see things in my light and thus the most cruel of executions are implemented under the false pretext of avoiding conflict. What could be worse than the refusal of an apology? Ignoring and eluding someone. When a plea is turned down, atleast the person in debt is acknowledged but when you turn away from someone, you degrade them to a level of not even being worth a human recognition. Let me ask you, is this even remotely fair? Is this the sort of atonement that they should be asked to serve? What sort of sin could be as iniquitious to receive such an amercement? I doubt anything can tally to that level. So ask yourselves, do you really believe you are executing justice the way you perceive right, or are you simply adding on to the more inhuman ways of punishing others that so painfully seek pardon for their wrongdoings? Are creating awareness in the form of morality or creating awareness that highlights how unappreciative people are to the forgiven or worst unforgiven? Ponder upon this thought as it shakes the very root of our moral pillars and foundation.
The forgiver is seen as the more prominent of the two beings. Seeing that he is willing to overlook the wrong and injustice that has been done to him, he is thus elevated to the status of a divine being. Yes, it remains undeniable that the forgiver has suffered a great deal and perhaps even a loss on his behalf may have been rendered, but how many people have been wronged in life? How many still persist on with their arduous life styles. I don’t mean the imply that people should just grit their teeth and allow their fate and rights to be manipulated by the likes of others all in the name of the existence of apologies, but I do want to show how trivial it does seem, of the pain the forgiver bears when contrasted with that of the forgiven. I am not defending the sins committed or perpetrated by the forgiven, and neither am I condoning it. But, the point that I am so determined to emphasize and point out is merely that the it takes a great deal of courage, strength and inner confidence to actually own up to a mistake and even more to confess to a number of individuals especially if it does mean that embarrassment and humiliation is unavoidable. To know danger and walk into it is courageous but to know humiliation and accept the consequences of emotional torment all in the sake of mending mistakes so that justice and truth prevails is by far more stalwart than any act I have ever had the honor of coming across.
Sometimes I wonder if true human nature comes with sheer oblivion or we just choose to be so ignorant. I find it pretty degrading as I watch acts that naturally command some form of recognition or atleast appreciation in the least go unnoticed. At times, when these commendable acts are just glossed over I console myself that people are just nescient to certain details that done concern them in particular but what truly unearthes surges of anger within me would be the fact that some people have the audacity to slight these acts claiming that they are acts done insincerely or solely performed for selfish reasons. Do these people have any idea how much of pain is involved for a person to swallow his pride and admit shamefully to an act that is incommodious in nature? Of course not. It is however a synch to batter an already broken entity in his time of desperation, isn’t it? Welcome to the sadistic and barbaric world of human nature.
For the sinner, ( I’m not making this any milder than it should be) he endures a possibilty of a lifetime of personal torment as he is held questionable to his heinous acts by his own conscious ( something that every sane mortal should possess, unless of course they have succumbed to the level of animalistic integrity). Could you imagine sleeping at night, when every particle and every inch of your skin screams unease? Could you even conceive the mental fatigue of the culprit as he struggles day in and day out with a conscience that weighs a ton on his shoulders? Or do you think you are capable of fathoming the emotional trauma that somebody could endure when all every fibre of their body is tainted and every move made is calculated a million times because of fear and dereliction? Pretty paradoxical, won’t you agree?
I’m not going to pretend to be a saint and state that I have never held a grudge. Of course I have. But in cases where I know the penance has dutifully been subjected and retribution has made its run, I bear no ill feelings towards them. It would be a greater sin on my part not to accept their flaws. Besides, it doesn’t take much convincing as all I have to do would be to envisage myself it their shoes, and presto! I am able to decipher my next move. After all, I am not as hard-hearted to subject them to such angst and anguish. But not many people see things in my light and thus the most cruel of executions are implemented under the false pretext of avoiding conflict. What could be worse than the refusal of an apology? Ignoring and eluding someone. When a plea is turned down, atleast the person in debt is acknowledged but when you turn away from someone, you degrade them to a level of not even being worth a human recognition. Let me ask you, is this even remotely fair? Is this the sort of atonement that they should be asked to serve? What sort of sin could be as iniquitious to receive such an amercement? I doubt anything can tally to that level. So ask yourselves, do you really believe you are executing justice the way you perceive right, or are you simply adding on to the more inhuman ways of punishing others that so painfully seek pardon for their wrongdoings? Are creating awareness in the form of morality or creating awareness that highlights how unappreciative people are to the forgiven or worst unforgiven? Ponder upon this thought as it shakes the very root of our moral pillars and foundation.
