The Spiritual Expansion of Forgiveness
Both our humanness and our spirituality expand when we accept and forgive the mistakes of ourselves and others.
My recovery was stalled for years by my inability to forgive two people: the alcoholic, and myself. I thought forgiveness was a one-time, monumental event. Step Ten teaches that forgiveness is a practice that expands my spiritual capacity. Both my humanness (my capacity to err) and my spirituality (my capacity for grace) expand when I accept and forgive mistakes.
Forgiving myself for the small slips I catch in my daily inventory is just as vital as forgiving others for their daily slips. If I criticize my own humanness, I remain small and guarded. If I offer myself the same grace I offer others, I experience the expansive, loving nature of my Higher Power. Forgiveness is the spiritual oil that keeps the gears of my recovery from seizing up.
I will write down one small mistake I made this morning. Instead of criticizing myself, I will write: 'I accept this humanness. I forgive myself. I will try differently next time.' This will be my moment of spiritual expansion.
