"Who is it that for gives?"

Alex watched this process all morning as he went about his work. At lunchtime he sat down at a small table at The Happy Frog Cafe to once again chat with Master Dave. Dave arrived at the table carrying the familiar pot of tea and two mugs. He sat down, smiled, and asked, "Well, Alex, who are you today?"

Alex thought a moment and replied, "Just a moment ago I was someone enjoying the warmth of the room. Right now I am someone who is nervous about giving you a pleasing answer."

Master Dave smiled, poured the tea, handed a mug to Alex, and said, "Interesting. Let's talk about the one who is nervous. What does he need to hear?"

How would you answer the question – right at this moment, reading this particular line of this specific book, right here and right now? Who are you today?

Answers tend to fall into certain categories: 

I am someone who . . . 
I am a . . . 
I am feeling . . .

Central to the question of forgiveness are the questions: Who is it that forgives? Who is it that receives forgiveness? and Who is it that withholds forgiveness? 

When we look to certain parts of our ego-structure for actions and attitudes of forgiveness, we are looking in all the wrong places and making impossible demands. When we are looking to the part of our identity that is rooted in the Tao, the whole process of forgiveness happens as naturally as breathing.

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