photo credit gladys
“The beginning of atonement is the sense of its necessity.” Lord Byron
whatever happened to "there's nothing to forgive because there is no such thing as sin?"
each day i blog, i believe i am working on transgression. for me, this daily journaling and writing hopefully brings me closer to forgiveness and closer to being connected with the world around me in a new way.
i journal, i blog, i write, partly because i seek absolution. i know on a very real level, this is completely a moot point. this would be easily confirmed by the lessons i learn in a course in miracles. yet it is important that i work diligently in this direction. the more clearly i see and share my truth, the more my heart opens. this is at once challenging and very rewarding. my heart is opening, my world expands, and all the while my vision of the world grows along with this.
from wikipedia:
The atonement is a doctrine found within both Christianity and Judaism. It describes how sin can be forgiven by God. In Judaism, Atonement is said to be the process of forgiving or pardoning a transgression. This was originally accomplished through rituals performed by a High Priest on the holiest day of the Jewish year: Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). In Christian theology the atonement refers to the forgiving or pardoning of sin through the death by crucifixion of Jesus Christ which made possible the reconciliation between God and creation.
Atonement is Inevitable
Free will does not mean
We can remain forever separated
From our Creator.
We can indeed
Choose to believe
In the illusion
Of separation,
And play in the fields
Of duality.
Eventually, however the
Suffering the world
Of opposites engenders
Becomes intolerable
And we seek a better way.
That way leads to Atonement
And reunion with our Creator
The Oneness
That we are.
" Twin Souls"
John and Rev. Ananda McIntosh
write on....
4 comments:
I've thought of atonement as very much the point of the amends process, so that there a direct relation between what you did and to whom, and forgiveness directly from those you have harmed.
The way you express it though, makes me wonder if you're not talking about absolution for who you are, as opposed to what you've done. And since you certainly have committed no transgressions against your readers, you can be assured you require no absolution from us. But you certainly needn't atone for anything that you are, as your indeed perfect in your imperfections.
My perception of atonement is one of those things that must be done if one is to ever find fulfillment, happiness or joy. As those things cannot "happen" at a point in time other than the now, it would seem that atonement is just another obstacle to what already is. Therefore, I am not a big fan of atonement.
That being said, if you have decided to explore atonement, forgiveness or some other form of salvation, who am I, indeed, who is anyone to say you should not? But I will suggest that you do not predicate your being perfect on the outcome of that quest. I agree with Mark when I say that the matter of your being perfect is a given and, therefore, a moot point to be questing after.
WS
Your ability to touch on the very topic that happens to be haunting me on a given day or week is amazing.
I've struggled to embrace the Course in Miracles concept of atonement, which is based on the idea that we are sinless (having the mind of God), but we as humans commit judgment errors that we can "put right" through the resetting mechanism of atonement.
It comes across to me like the Mormon baptism of the dead, so it feels ookey for this former Baptist fundy.
At the root of the issue is the pervasive guilt I have that the wretched shit I thought and did while tweaked out has confirmed that I am a really depraved soul who is masquerading as a new believer and embracer of the light.
I know this is a delusion borne of low self-esteem, but there are major reinforcers in my life of this notion that I am beyond the pale.
And as I learned in a Marianne Williamson tape this morning, that notion is stopping any progress I can make toward atonement and forgiveness.
So it's a muddle at the moment.
“The beginning of atonement is the sense of its necessity.” Lord Byron
That's a big piece to learn. I must agree w/your post. I think I could never reiterate the important beliefs and how well rounded the 12 Steps are, when applying this concept. I do however remember a time when I thought it was all (the 12 Steps) a crock of shit.
"Tame the Shame & Blame Game" is where I'm at and I play it every day. I suppose it all starts with personal accountability and responsibility. It's a painful process but once we arrive, it makes all the difference in the world.
It's all actually quite simple, kindergarten in it's premise; Once we begin to treat others as we want to be treated, the variables of the game change. Once we address our transgressions and make amends another change is set into motion. Next we try to forgive those that have transgressed against us, which is never easy, is it? It's all, life, is perspective, huh?
Big Hugz Darlin'!
PS, David Beckam; Wow what a pic and noteworthy!
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