Monthly Archives: July 2011
Ethiopia: Help Before It is Too Late Says CAFOD
Millions of people across Eastern Africa are looking down the barrel
of the worst famine for 60 years. Thousands of families have picked up
their possessions to walk towards what they hope is better pasture
land, towards countries that might hold the promise of food.
Cameroon: Rape – Silence And Impunity Persists
Close to 500,000 cases of rape are recorded each year in Cameroon.
Like a number of countries on the African continent, the victims
are forced into silence, while the perpetrators go free due to a
lack of evidence.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201107061483.html
Compton High School Student Splits $40K in Winnings Among Runners-Up
Awesome story shared with me by my friend and colleague, Steve Woodsmall. This story is such an inspiration and could breathe hope into our communities; such a selfless act in a selfish world.
Nigeria: Central Bank Refuses Banking License to Al Qaeda
“Amidst fears that the proposed Islamic banking system, may create an
avenue for terrorist financing in Nigeria, the Governor of Central
Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Monday revealed
that a group had earlier in the 1990s, applied for licence to
establish an Al Qaeda Bank in the country but was not approved.”
http://allafrica.com/stories/201107050896.html
Forgiveness is for the Forgiver More Than for the Forgiven
By Natasha L. Foreman, MBA
I have had the opportunity recently to forgive some people in my life who wronged me over the years. I had forgiven them already, but I guess for them, it was necessary to ask…and in some cases, this was not the first request. In all relationships- business and personal I believe that when we part ways, even on bad terms, you should still forgive the person that you believe wronged you. It’s not so much for them as it is for you. This is your opportunity to leave the past in the past, release the weight you have been carrying around on your shoulders and in your heart, and free yourself from the venom inside that causes you to roll your eyes and suck your teeth every time you think of them.
So a few years ago I walked away from a personal relationship. I had forgiven that person for misleading me, betraying me, and mistreating me. I forgave that person for not treating me with the respect that I deserved- that I had given him. He thought money and gifts were good enough, and they would make me overlook his indiscretions in our relationship. He thought that material possessions and a ‘status’ and ‘title’ excused his behavior and treatment of me. He thought that telling me lies and misleading me were excusable offenses because he was, “a man” and “men will be men”, and some other nonsense.
He forgot he was playing games with a child of God. He also forgot my clear declaration that I shared with him, and every man before and after him…”Be honest and upfront. If you want to see other people then let’s just casually date, so we can both be free to date others” because “Once I’m through I’m through, there are no re-takes, breaks while we figure things out, or break-ups to make-ups…if you cheat I’m gone….”
But what was I thinking? Women didn’t leave him, he left them, so I was obviously delusional and way in over my head in his opinion.
It would appear that he was actually the delusional one. Once I walked away from the relationship there was no looking back, no holding on to memories and hopes for something more with him. No desire to punish him, get even, or parade around him and his friends as a reminder of what he had and lost. I was at peace. I had already moved on before I made the decision to say, “this isn’t working out.” But to have this overwhelming sense of peace and resolve it required me to forgive him, which I did.
Years have passed and it never crossed my mind that this individual would spend the time and resources to track me down to ask for forgiveness. But he did. So once again I forgave him. No emotion, no questions of why, how, and “what did I do to you to make you think I deserved this?” Instead, I calmly and rationally told him that I forgave him years ago, have no interest on rekindling flames or even being friends. I wished him well in life and said a quick prayer hoping he receives the life he has always wanted, and that it falls in line with what God believes he needs.
For him he felt he needed clarification; he needed to know how I knew he was cheating because he had been so careful; he needed to know if we could be friends (I guess he thought the first time I said “no” it was a typo), and if we could meet up from time to time. Quickly, clearly, and succinctly I explained the following…
I knew he was cheating because I pray throughout the day every day that God always reveals the truth to me and never allows me to be hidden from it or blind-sided by it; I told him that he should never attempt to mislead or battle with a ‘believer’ because no weapon formed against us shall ever prosper. I firmly yet respectfully told him again that he had no reason to contact me after that point, that if he has learned from his past and has no intention on repeating it then it’s time for him to move on and learn his next lesson.
Had I still been carrying around resentment, anger, desperation, or even a romantic-type of love for him, this moment would have been destroyed because I would have reacted and responded emotionally, and would have allowed myself to be engaged in a lengthy conversation. I would have allowed his need to feel like he closed the chapter on ‘us’ or manipulative desire to start a new one overwhelm me. Instead this dialogue lasted no more than 10 minutes (the time it took me to finish eating my sandwich, chips, and most of my drink).
Forgiving him once more was again for me.
I have learned over the years that I am quite capable of walking away, moving on, weeding out people who serve no purpose but to distract me, and doing so lovingly. My high self-esteem is an added benefit, because I know that no matter what I go through and who I go through it with, that there is always someone better out there for me; that God is there watching over me and setting things in motion where I eventfully (through obedience) afterwards end up with bigger, better, and more beautiful experiences each and every time…and this has happened after each and every ‘failed’ relationship- both in business and in my love life.
The only way to truly prepare for bigger, better, and more beautiful experiences and blessings is to unload the weight from anger, guilt, fear, and negativity. We have to drain the venom from our minds and bodies that poisons us and everyone in our path. We have to forgive those who wronged us past and present. If you haven’t done it, if you haven’t let go, release that weight and start living your life fully…today!
Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. All Rights Reserved.
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Rwanda: State a Leader in Peace and Security – U.S. Envoy
The outgoing US ambassador to Rwanda, Stuart Symington has said that
Rwanda has become one of the world’s leading countries in the
preservation of peace and security in Africa and the entire world.
Paradigm Life 