I am a 
​"Forgiveness Practitioner"

​ I'm considered an expert on forgiveness having given presentations on this subject since the murder of our daughter. I admit I love to talk about forgiveness.  I believe in it - but I am still a novice and always will be. However I am a devoted forgiveness practitioner which means  I am engaged in the art of forgiveness, the discipline required in forgiveness and identification with forgiveness. Since forgiveness always bumps up against justice issues, I continue to remain interested in creating  a more satisfying justice for all. This has become my secondary cause in my pursuit of forgiveness. I am on the board of the Victim Assistance Community Grants, Inc.

Next Steps 
It was at a garden party book launch n our lovely garden in the middle of summer. I was launching my book, "Dispelling the clouds"  –and was answering questions about the book, when somebody sitting among the tiger lilies by the back gate asked me… “But  how do I forgive? How do I do what you did?”
          I have been reluctant to answer this question of “how” for many reasons. First of all because I didn’t know how to articulate or organize my particular process. Secondly, I didn’t know if the process that I followed so intuitively would be helpful to anyone else. Thirdly there were so many other experts on healing and psychological therapy – teachers on forgiveness out there that seemed to be answering it so well. Fourthly, the murder wasn’t resolved.
​We were still in process
          And yet – the question continues to haunt me.
So that is how I have come to this point wondering if I should write another book on surviving the trauma of murder and all the accumulative losses that we experience in life.
          The questions  How did I move through tragedy? How does one move through a huge injustice like the murder of one’s daughter? How do you find your way from the insanity of rage through to the sanity of peace again?
          It’s not easy – but it is possible.
​
*****

Four Characteristics of Forgiveness

 Peculiar Power 

In my work, I have discovered that the universe is scheming to bring any two people who are at odds with each other into the same room. How often do we say, "speak of the devil" when the person we have just complained about walks into our lives?

Divine Engagement

 From the Garden of Eden to Revelation, God reveals his plan of forgiveness and salvation in the Word.  It's the main story plot of God.  It's the main metaphor, the main event, the main message. God  is all about forgiveness. 

Process  Oriented

Even though it begins with choice, forgiveness takes processing. This process can be simple and take minutes or complicated and take a lifetime.  The man by  the back gate wanted to know how we did it. I think I have finally detailed the process and organized it under the acronym of  PLEASE. I'm in the process of writing it out.

Key to Freedom & Mental Health

Forgiveness isn't optional in this fallen world. Even the social chimpanzees of the animal kingdom have learned the ritual of forgiveness. If we don't forgive we become socially isolated, physically ill, mentally unstable, and spiritually stuck.  

---

Three Main Forgiveness Discussions

Theological Forgivenesss

Relationship Forgiveness 

Therapeutic Forgiveness