Thursday, January 14, 2010

bumpersticker wisdom


Self Forgiveness by Austin Sloan



Forgiveness: Giving up all hope for a better past


I was driving behind a car that had a bumpersticker with the above quote. Wow. It struck me as one of the best descriptions of forgiveness I've ever read or heard. When I looked for a photo or painting to accompany the quote I wasn't thinking in terms of self-forgiveness, but when I saw this beauty by Austin Sloan I thought it brought attention to an important act of forgiveness that many of us probably need to practice......but do not.



11 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's such a great quote, I just had to post it on Twitter :)

It's true. We beat ourselves up about what has been, and that causes us endless misery in the now. Crazy when you think about it, right?

YogaforCynics said...

Interesting...though it might depend on how we use the word "past"--whether in an objective sense, or in a sense of being created by our interpretations of events...in which case, it can certainly improve, and, in doing so, lead to forgiveness...

Word Verificiation: deparb...as in "deparb from bad interpretations..."

Aleks said...

Oh how true,in this I recognize myself,Im guilty!
I do hope I will live long enough to forgive myself for not being happy.
That beautiful peace or heart from Austin Sloan is telling me a lot,to prevent one drop of water drying out you drop it in the ocean,wonderful.
Love and peace lovely lady,greetings from Aleksandra

Nancy said...

You are absolutely right. We have the hardest time forgiving ourselves. And yet, we can't truly forgive others until we forgive ourselves. What a beautiful painting to go with a beautiful sentiment.

Lydia said...

svasti: You're right about that!
I told Michael that it is the kind of quote that could spread. I think that with your putting in on Twitter (I'm still not on that) the quote just might go viral!

YogaforCynics: Your deparbation of the interpretation of "past" blew my mind. Interesting that you mention a means to "improve" the situation, that could thereby lead to forgiveness. The reason the quote was such an ah-ha! lucid thing for me is because of the past being that unchangeable object that just is and accepting it as such opens the heart to (possible?) forgiveness.
I'm going to be pondering this...

ALeks: How fascinating that you are grappling with forgiving yourself for not being happy. That is deep! The ocean is deep, too, and I loved your interpretation of the art. Love and peace to you, also. :)

Sage Ravenwood said...

That was truly profound. I once heard it said - when you hit bottom...then and only then, will you be ready to begin again. So in a sense when you reach that point of giving up hope, you're ready to forgive and begin again. (Hugs)Indigo

Darlene said...

It's too early for me to ponder the implications of all this deep thinking.

Friko said...

brilliant phrase, a quick throw-away thought, but, on a second thought, how totally apposite.
I shall remember and use it myself.

kj said...

holy good god moley, lydia, this bumper sticker has my name all over it.

thank you. i won't forget this....

Phivos Nicolaides said...

Beautiful words, great quote. Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs

Lydia said...

Indigo: Loved your comments, perfectly expressed. Hugs back. :)

Darlene: I'm shocked! You're so much a morning person and I gotcha with this post! Seriously, I hope you had a great day.

Friko: Yours was one of the comments saying you wouldn't forget the quote on this bumpersticker. I'm along with you on that ride!

kj: See above comment to Friko. Ditto, with a heart following but I don't have a heart graphic. :(

Phivos: I like the quote very much too. I'm wishing you a marvelous weekend also! :)

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