Have the HART to forgive

i have been a wrestling fan all my life. From the likes of Hulk Hogan to Andre The Giant, I have watched everything I could. In my teens, there was one that stood out – Bret “The Hitman” Hart. He was labeled “The Excellence of Execution”. Well, it was not just a label. He embodied it.
In his last appearance at the World Wrestling Entertainment, he was cheated out of the WWE Championship because he was about to transfer to the rival wrestling company at that time called World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The Montreal Screwjob (because the cheating happened in Montreal) has been one of the most controversial and most talked about events in wrestling history. For twelve years, wrestling fans around the world wondered if  there would be any closure. People said that hell will freeze first when these two will meet and reconcile.

Then, hell froze over.

Tonight, at the Live WWE Raw show, Bret Hart returned and buried the hatched with Shawn Michaels. For those who do not know, Shawn Michaels is a Born-Again Christian and has completely changed all these years since that incident in Montreal.

For twelve years, they have exchanged heated words and pointed fingers as who was at fault. However, there were no pointing fingers today. No heated words. Only words of encouragement, a handshake and a heartfelt hug. At last, there was closure.

Let me be honest – I shed a tear or two. I shed a tear because I know how it is to carry such weight and the relief of letting it go.

I was happy for both men who has carried such a burden for twelve years. Makes me wonder how we have carried the same things – bitterness, unforgiveness, grudges.

You don’t need to carry this heavy burden for twelve or so years. It’s been too long and the only one who has been having a hard time is you. Isn’t it time to bury the hatchet and let things go.

You may say that it is the other persons fault. True. But it does not change the fact that this bitterness and unforgiveness has haunted you and placed you in an invisible prison. Only you hold the key to get out of it.

It’s the new year. Perhaps we can consider forgiving someone today. Perhaps we can consider burying the hatchet. Perhaps we can let someone off a huge debt. Perhaps 2010 can be the year when you can set someone free from any guilt or bitterness.

As Bret Hart had the “HART” to forgive, maybe we can too.

After all, God forgave us first. Why shouldn’t we forgive others?

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