THE TIDES

Some years before the battle of Waterloo, one of the greatest military leaders of all time, Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to the island Elba primarily because he lost the Battle of Leipzig. He lost his beloved France for that period because he could not win just a single battle, which was not what he could easily let go because, while exiled in Elba he had frequent and coded communications with most of his loyalist and commanders, some were even discovered and killed for still pledging allegiance to the erstwhile Emperor. In one of his numerous letters to his friends, he stated how he may never forgive himself for failing France and how difficult it will be for him if he fails to regain power, he was quoted as saying "...death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily". His escape and reclamation of the French throne did not come as a surprise to his followers because while he was away, he kept on his strategists' hat and by virtue of all he had mastered, he was successful. But even after regaining the throne, the unforgiveness and bitterness inside him made him wage battles upon battle till he was finally defeated at Waterloo (that is where the English saying "meeting your waterloo" came from). 

I agree when people say "absolute power corrupts absolutely" and that might be the case with Napoleon but I also know that forgiveness goes a long way in easing the soul and giving inner peace. It is not enough to obtain forgiveness from God and the people affected by our acts. That only makes us relaxed towards God and Man, so we have an outward peace and freedom but when we do not forgive ourselves for doing whatever it is, we continue fighting battles that we never win because as Master Shifu in Kung-Fu Panda said "every Master must find his path  to inner peace, some choose to meditate for 50 years", while some choose to pray, cast and bind every demon responsible for their lack of inner peace and some choose to simply forgive themselves for being callous, careless and plain stupid in the past.

Because 'there is no coincidences or accidents in life' as I believe, everything happens for a purpose even though we may not see the WHY immediately. It may even take years for us to see the reasons, why you made that mistake, took that path/decision and even walked that mile. I've been battling a particular incident in my recent past, and even though I know I've asked for forgiveness from God and the person affected (of which I am sure God has forgiven me already), I kept wondering what part of me was that sloppy or childish. I eventually learn't that, had I not made that mess, I will not have known what I know now or even get to the path am walking on and though we are all seeking inner peace, I can say I've learn't to come to terms with certain things and accepted them as necessary stepping stones to greatness and ultimately inner peace.

So as much as we want to crest our marks on the sands of time and carve a niche for ourselves in life, it will do us more good to let the tides wash away all the errors and flaws we make while trying to achieve that because only by blowing out the dust does the sculptor know what part of his work needs the chisel most.

Let the tides wash away the errors and let it take them to sea, only then can your mark be made perfect in the sands of time.

Seek forgiveness when wrong and don't forget to forgive yourself...within lies INNER PEACE.

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