Auschwitz. The very word causes even moderately-informed humans to pause and prayerfully reflect. It was one of the most infamous concentration camps of all time. Located in Poland, it represents all that love is not. Fear, hate, isolation, hopelessness. 

I had the honor of visiting this sacred site a couple of years ago. It was one of the most stirring places I have ever visited. 

I could hear the callous soldiers growling their orders for the huddled masses to disrobe and move into the “showers.”

Then, the unthinkable, the unimaginable, the horrible happened. They were annihilated with the release of a cyanide-based pesticide called Zyklon B. Originally created to be a pesticide, it became Nazi Germany’s preferred instrument of death. *

Once liberated from the Nazi death camps, survivors had to either forgive the unforgivable, or remain in cruel emotional captivity.  

Some of us live in self-made concentration camps. Others are still imprisoned by an emotionally detached father or stinging from the pangs of a punishing betrayal. Our cruel guards have names. Fear. Hate. Isolation. Hopelessness. 

If you want to love, you have to let go.

Forgiveness is your ticket out. If you want to be able to care about others in your life, you have to forgive the unforgivable. Don’t wait another day to be liberated. Start today. Forgive yourself. Forgive the snarling soldiers. While fastened to a wooden cross, Jesus showed us the way. “Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) 

Right now. Find a quiet place; take care of business. Forgive, so you can fully love and receive love.

*Wikipedia (Zyklon B)