MSIA Minister, Anne Naylor, is holding the focus for International Forgiving Day on March 15, 2002. Anne shares this about the day:

“I have been holding an intention since 1995 that March 15 be declared International Forgiving Day — a Day of For-giving. Much as Thanksgiving heralds Christmas in the US, I would love that Forgiving heralds Easter worldwide.”

“From my observations so far, there are many ways forgiving can be expressed. I am not sure that there is any one right way. However, each year I have experienced a more profound contact with what I now call the Spirit of Forgiving on and around March 15.”

“Your participation with International Forgiving Day on March 15, 2002 would be very welcome, however you are moved and in whatever way works best for you. Monday 11 March marks six months after the September 11 events and the emotional distress experienced so widely as a result. My hope is that this week of 11 – 15 March might become a time of healing and renewal through the Spirit of Forgiving.”

Here are some ideas for celebrating International Forgiving Day:

Participate in the Q&A Event with John Morton in Santa Monica on Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. pacific time and live on the Internet worldwide. Ask a question about forgiveness. For more info on how to participate, visit www.msia.org/live.

Participate in a world-wide Ani Hu chant for forgiveness on Friday, March 15. “Hu” is an ancient name of God and “Ani” evokes empathy. Chanting this together can bring forward the forgiving spirit. To listen to the Ani Hu chant, click here.

eCards could be sent to people we love, but maybe have not been in touch with recently. Even people with whom we have had a disagreement in the past. You can go to www.lovingeachday.org to send a Loving Each Day quote by John-Roger or John Morton as an eCard.

The day is one to celebrate in which we are FOR – GIVING. What are the many ways we can become more FOR – GIVING on 15 March? Perhaps a day to dedicate to be of service to others, that we think of those in need and offer ourselves, our time and resources to make a positive difference in our world.

Then, most importantly, a time for personal reflection, prayer and meditation. The most profound forgiving is that which we can extend towards ourselves; that on this day, we extend greater compassion and kindness towards ourselves for our perceived personal shortcomings. We can take the opportunity to heal and free ourselves from old hurts that perhaps we have hung on to for years; resentments towards others; shame or guilt for events long past; fear of an unknown future can be healed through forgiving and the knowing that in the peace of our hearts, we have nothing to fear. Forgiving nurtures this peace. For more about Forgiveness, visit www.forgive.org.

In your locality, bring friends together for a potluck evening and simply talk about what forgiving means to you; the difference that forgiving attitudes could make to healing ourselves and others; perhaps share a prayer or guided visualization on the theme of forgiving; make a commitment to developing a more forgiving attitude towards ourselves and others.

Take the Forgiveness Email class offered by Peace Theological Seminary March 24 – April 14, 2002. Registration Deadline for this class is March 11, 2002. For more information or to register click here.

Anne Naylor has been a Consultant in personal motivation since 1982, following her successful career in personnel recruitment and administration. Trained mainly in the United States in techniques of personal development and applied psychology, she has since designed and presented programs in self-motivation, career development and early retirement for many blue chip companies. In 1990, Anne relocated to the South of France and between 1992 and 1996, published three personal development books, “Superlife,” “Superlove” and “SuperYou” (Thorsons HarperCollins). Drawing on the ideas in these books, she founded the innovative Possible Dream Group on the Cote d’Azur in 1995 and initiated the vision that the 15th of March be International Forgiving Day. Her latest book is entitled “Random Soul”.