How do you forgive?

“This may sound odd, but if need be, begin by pretending. There’s a wonderful about pretending something. If you pretend it often enough, you become it…

I call this “creative hypocrisy.” Ordinary hypocrisy is when you pretend to be something you have no desire to really be. Creative hypocrisy is when you pretend to be that which you really do want to be.

Do it pateintly. Forgiveness is aprocess…

God can forgive in an instant. But we’re not God. So be patient. Don’t expect every pain to go away immediately and forever. Forgiving is a pilgrimage.

Finally, if forgiveness always comes hard for you, take a journey back into your own forgiveness. Reflect on the fact that no matter what you’ve done in the past, God has forgiven you. He rediscovered the beauty of your humanity. God has surrenderedevery right to ever get even with you. And every day God wishes you well! When you get that sense of forgiveness deep inside of you, it’s like a river that washes the anger away. You lose your energy to have once you know you’ve been that loved.

When you forgive, you ride the crest of God’s great wave of love. When you forgive, you walk hand in hand with God. In the process you set a prisoner free… and then you discover that the prisoner you set free is you.

-John Ortberg, et al. “Session Five - Forgiveness.”
Groups: The Life-Giving Power of Community.