Divinity

I grew up in a regimented lifestyle, with very clear dos and donts, yes and nos, hierarchy and discipline. Most of my generation did . As a member of the civil service i still work in a very regimented system. We are taught certain things as children, and we learn to judge others very early in life through these standards and also define our own course in life according to these beliefs and suppositions. Yet there comes a time when one, through the course of one's life, stops and asks himself/herself, are my beliefs correct? does following my values really pay? Is this the path to a fulfilling life? some find answers, some dont, and a few never ask these questions in the first place. But while we theorize and find answers, the universe, living, breathing around us, seems to follow a different course and does not work how we thought. I was trained to believe that mistakes are punished and people should pay for them. But i have seen that happiness belongs to the ones who forgive, who let go, who let others decide things for themselves,not those who set out to punish others. It is said that to forgive is divine.But to forgive is to me the ability to acknowledge the superiority of the divine power to punish and do justice, and forego it ourselves. It is true that people who sin are punished, but it is only for God to decide to punish them, and for what and how much, not human beings. And no human being can punish someebody the way God can. So leave it to God and behold his justice. We think that the more we hold on to things the better we can possses them.Yet nothing could be farther from the truth. Love is a flower which needs nurtutring, but gets crushed when held in hand, or if tinkered with too much. The same is with our possessions.The more you run after them, the more you lose control of things. To accumulate is good, but it is a silent principle of the universe that only those are given in abundance, who share their good fortune with others, who use thier possessions and positions to help others. The more you give, the more you receive. I believe in it. Possessions come and go, but who you are and what you stand for, is what defines you, and as Robert Frost said, makes all the difference in your life path. And the more you forgive, the more you accept and love others as they are, and not try to control them, the happier you are, and much more loved. We all want love and acceptance, how can we receive it if we are not willing to give? I see people who are really unhappy and frustrated because they want to control others,to do their bidding. they want to be smart, they want to befool them into submission. it works for a while, and after that, one just ends up angry when ones ploys fail. People who aim to control others, often forget, that there is a hand of God, which thwarts their machinations and creates balance in the world. Because God belongs to every one, even one's enemies, and listens to their prayers too,so does justice. This is how I came to realize the existence of a living Divine power, much higher than all our designs and expectations, and to live in harmony with divinity is what gives us lasting peace.