24 - Big Flub
Thinking back on previous Interlude, and the importance of forgiveness and as taught by the Fourth Keystone, as introspection of our own fallibility. We are taught that it is a virtue to forgive when the other side is in the wrong. We should be giving in times of both ease and hardship, and control our rage and pardon other people — be loved as a doer of good.
In the light of that command we can forego our own rights and behave with humility, representing a fine role model for the other party. Taking the higher road, as we’ve often heard. In doing so, not only are we helping the other side, but we are also keeping with the Third Keystone, which teaches us to Uphold the rights and autonomy of others as you would your own.
One thing to remember, which can get lost if emotions or tensions are high: believers ought not discriminate between big and small mistakes when it comes to forgiveness, and also not exhibit different levels of forgiveness depending on the error involved. The person who made the mistake may have unwittingly caused great loss of life or property and may have seriously damaged the other party’s interests: Yet the believer knows that everything happens by edict of the Paraclete and within an appointed destiny, and the believer must treat such events with deference to avoid personal rancor – the past cannot be changed, only the future, influenced.
Someone may have exceeded the bounds set by the Paraclete out of ignorance. However, it is not always for us to judge him for that. Believers therefore have no responsibility to judge or withhold forgiveness.
The response if someone sincerely repents and regrets his actions will come in the future. Adhering their lives to the Five Keystones will lead them to improve themselves, their behavior, to make amends, and the entire community will benefit. When a believer makes a mistake and sincerely repents of it, he will wish both for forgiveness in the eyes of the aggrieved, as well as the broader Temple community to forgive and trust him. When he encounters forgiveness he will know that this is a great blessing.
Of course this command of the Paraclete is one that encourages compassion among believers and needs to be obeyed. As members of the Temple, in need of one anothers grace and forgiveness, we also need that same compassion and mercy.
Human beings are prone to error as part of their natures; they may think inaccurately on many matters at all times. We may make wrong decisions and even behave poorly. However, dwelling on these mistakes in an inefficient exercise, and we must not forget the First Keystone and its supreme edict to Strive to be efficient, competent, and autonomous. Analysis of others’ errors has limited use, and our time is better spent on solutions and growth, rather than endless chastisement and wasteful chatter. Let us not forget that efficiency is next to divinity. Were it not for this internal drive within all of us, it would be impossible for anyone to enter paradise.
