The Forgiveness Handbook

Inspiration, encouragement and spiritual practice from across faith traditions for all who seek hope and wholeness through letting go. We all carry wounds that can bind up our hearts and keep us from fully lovingand fully livingin the present. Our pain may come from devastating trauma or unconscious resentment from accumulated everyday grievances. No matter the depth of the hurt, in the warmth and wisdom of this inspiring guidebook readers will find courage to face the past and begin the process of letting go. Contributors active as spiritual directors, clergy, religious scholars and retreat leaders draw on the depths of their own spiritual practice, religious traditions and sacred texts to offer hope and encouragement for the journey of forgiveness. They provide a rich variety of practices for cultivating an open and forgiving heart, both toward ourselves and others, as well as step-by-step guidance in the process of forgiveness. They share their insights on: Healing ourselves through forgiveness Overcoming obstacles to forgiveness Letting go of resentment, blame and anger Forgiving ourselves Deciding whether to restore relationships Asking for and accepting forgiveness Receiving Divine forgiveness Fostering mercy in our hearts Seeking peace and reconciliation in our communities For use by individuals as well as groups in worship or counseling settings, this wide range of perspectives, offered with grace and compassion, will gently move readers toward the wholeness and freedom that come from true forgiveness. Contributors: Nancy L. Bieber Rev. Carolyne Call Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell Nancy Barrett Chickerneo, PhD Paul Wesley Chilcote, PhD William Cleary Nancy Corcoran, CSJ Linda Douty Rabbi Ted Falcon Marcia Ford Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune Tamar Frankiel, PhD Rabbi Edwin Goldberg, DHL Caren Goldman Rev. Steven Greenebaum Judy Greenfeld Kent Ira Groff Diana L. Guerrero Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar Kay Lindahl Rabbi David Lyon Pastor Don Mackenzie St. Maximos Ron Miller Diane M. Millis, PhD Rev. Timothy J. Mooney Rev. Dr. John Philip Newell Linda Novick Rev. Larry J. Peacock Gordon Peerman M. Basil Pennington, OCSO Jan Phillips Susan Quinn Imam Jamal Rahman Marty Richards, MSW, LCSW The Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson, PhD Rev. Nanette Sawyer Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Aaron Shapiro Rami Shapiro Louise Silk Rev. Susan Sparks Aaron Spevack, PhD Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz Molly and Bernie Srode Tom Stella Sohaib N. Sultan Terry Taylor Yoland Trevino Rev. Jane E. Vennard The Rev. Peter Wallace Cynthia Winton-Henry