Article November 29, 1969 Issue

Forgiveness: An Act of True Loving

MARGARET C. DuVALL

True forgiveness stems from a constant consciousness of divine Love's jurisdiction and control over all. True forgiveness is an experience in true loving. No grievance, no act of hatred or intolerance, can shatter the composure or restrict the compassion of one who has reached the heights of true loving.

The human mind may insist: "How can I feel peace and joy when someone expresses jealousy and malice toward me? How can I see this individual under divine Love's jurisdiction and control, and forgive him?" The answer lies in the meek enlightenment of spirit that recognizes as false the belief that evil can assume entity or individuality. To suffer from any affront to person or position denies the spiritual fact implied by the First Commandment—God's allness and the perfection of man, created in His image.

Mrs. Eddy has this to say of evil: "It never originated or existed as an entity. It is but a false belief; even the belief that God is not what the Scriptures imply Him to be, All-in-all, but that there is an opposite intelligence or mind termed evil. This error of belief is idolatry, having 'other gods before me.'"^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 45;} Reasoning from this correct standpoint, we can see that any obstinate belief that we suffer from another's injustice or thoughtlessness is spiritual disobedience on our part.