It’s often said that when folk look at us they may see a smiling person and imagine that all is well in our life. We tend to put on masks according to the situation. Jung talked of the ‘persona’. The masks we use to cover our true feelings, but who actually sees us behind the mask?
In Greek tragedy there may only be one actor, but that actor comes on stage with a different mask to portray the character he is acting. We do that don’t we.
We don’t do it on purpose. It’s how us humans react to situations.
The point I wish to make is that we just don’t know what is going on in the mind of another, so should not judge. We all have secrets that we may not have even shared with our nearest.
But seeing someone behave badly does not make them a bad person, but someone who may be lost and is lashing out at all around them. Friends can be cruel or kind. But how many of us have come across someone who is deliberately hurtful? I haven’t. They mean well but their sympathy is often misplaced but done out of kindness.
“How many times should I forgive Lord, seven times”? “No, seventy times seven”.
Forgiveness comes from the heart not the head. It’s ether all or nothing. If we break man’s laws then we must accept punishment. But, “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is Gods’.”
Tolerance is so often difficult. Some go on and on and you may feel like screaming inside. But everyone has a tale to tell, an experience that may help someone. Who knows.