Bitterness: How to Heal Our Hurts

I passed this lone tree on the road, shortly after a violent spring storm had blown through. Its particular location and uniqueness caused me to stop quickly and pull over for this photograph. The tree presented a distinct contrast to the straight telephone poles nearby.

What I saw was a spiritual truth, that when we choose to live alone through our anger and justify ourselves, we get twisted, just like the tree. We can be just inches away from profound connection (like the telephone wires), but not recognize the value of communication until it is realized. Like the distance between our head and our heart, which is only a physical proximity, forgiveness is a transition of the heart. Often in our pride, we refuse to bridge the gap. Quite possibly, when we take the first step to reconcile, we might experience renewed peace and restored relationships.

The tree was still alive but it wasn't producing any growth, like us when we choose to hold onto and rehearse our hurts. The telephone pole was a dead tree, brought to life by the communication that passed through it in great capacity every second of its use. That pole really wasn't doing it on its own, it is just useful as a conduit.

When I make a choice to forgive, I choose to open my heart for God to make that connection to the relationship that has died or been put at a distance. Bitterness, the refusal to give or accept grace, can be like a cancer in the soul. You may not physically see it, but it eats away our joy moment by moment. The sad truth is that it only kills the one who harbors it, because many times, the other person(s) go on with their lives. Sometimes they are unaware that there is a problem.

There is a always a solution if I choose the path of forgiveness. Then, and only then am I truly free to be me. Then I can go on to help others heal from the things I have overcome by God's grace. When my life is over, let it be said of me that is the path I chose no matter what the cost. God can bring to life anything I offer Him, dead or alive. He brings beauty out of the ashes of life. This is from my experience of the release and healing made available through forgiveness.