# Forgiving, forgetting, and the journey of conversion
*2017-03-14*

> Bill Young reflects on the necessity of complete forgiveness and explores Pope Francis's Lenten meditations on conversion of heart.

## The Art of Forgiving and Forgetting

I started my day reflecting on a personal experience. I had an appointment last Monday, but due to traffic, I arrived over an hour late. Because the room was full, they couldn't see me. I found myself in a state of frustration, but I realized I needed to be forgiving. When the receptionist was apologetic today, I told her not to worry, because I was 'forgiving and forgetting.'

I believe this is how God operates; He forgives and He forgets. If we want to emulate Him, we must do the same. Many people say, 'I forgive, but I'll never forget,' but that doesn't actually help you. It is a two-prong approach, and forgetting is the most important part. If you hold onto the memory of the offense, it will only continue to heat you up.

## Hoping for Conversion

I have been reading a book of daily Lenten reflections by Pope Francis. For Monday of the second week of Lent, the reflection was 'Hoping for Conversion,' based on Psalm 78:38, which says, 'God brings compassion and forgiveness for their inequities and does not destroy them.'

Pope Francis explains that the purpose of trials is for people to experience the bitterness of abandoning God. When confronted with the emptiness of choosing death and suffering, sinners may become open to conversion. Divine mercy means God does not deal with us according to our faults; instead, punishments become instruments to spur reflection. God always leaves the door open to hope. Just as a sick person goes to a doctor, a person who recognizes their sin should go to the Lord. Too often, we seek justice or peace through the wrong paths, excluding God from the process.

## A Conversion of Heart

For Tuesday, the reflection is 'Conversion of Heart,' based on Joel 2:12: 'Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and with weeping and with mourning.'

Conversion in this Lenten season is not about outward forms or mere obedience, but about a transformation that begins at the center of the person. We are invited to break our routines and open our hearts to God and others. In an increasingly artificial world, we often live in a 'culture of the useful,' excluding God from our horizon. We must remind ourselves that we are creatures and that we are not God. The challenge for us today is to ask: How might I open my heart to the needs of those closest to me?

## Signs in the Ordinary

I wanted to share a strange occurrence in my garage. I noticed some leaves and debris blowing around that formed distinct triangular shapes. To me, these looked like symbols of the Trinity. When I showed them to my wife, she dismissed them as a natural occurrence or a fluke of nature. However, I noticed the leaves had settled precisely over small holes and indentations in the garage floor, suggesting a form of intelligence rather than random wind.

My wife suggested that if the Holy Spirit wanted to communicate, He would do it differently. But I recall that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles as 'rushing winds.' I believe the Holy Spirit can use the wind to speak to us. Whether this was an act of nature or a sign from a greater intelligence, I am willing to follow the path God has set for me.

*True conversion requires us to move beyond outward forms and open our hearts fully to God and to those around us.*