Catherine Ponder
You will experience betrayal of one kind or another At some point in your life . At such times, when you are feeling hurt, anger, disappointment, guilt and a host of other negative emotions, forgiving may be the last thing on your mind. Yet, when you don't forgive, you harbour these negative emotions. They fester and can become even more dangerous to you than the original betrayal.
These negative emotions create blocks which have a negative impact on every area of your life including your health and the level of success you achieve in life. However, when you understand the Law of Forgiveness ,you understand that forgiving is liberating and expansive. As Paul Boese said:
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."
And the following story of how one man's choice to be forgiving demonstrates how truly expansive the future can be.
In 1997, billionaire Bill Bartmann was named America's 25th richest man.
He was riding the crest of a wave.
Then in 1998 that wave came crashing down.
Bartmann's former business partner committed fraud that sent their company, Commercial Financial Services (CFS), into a tailspin and bankruptcy. Even although the business partner told the prosecutors that he had acted independently and without Bartmann's knowledge, the US Attorney General, John Ashcroft indicted Bill Bartmann on 57 counts of fraud.
His finances in ruins and his reputation now in tatters, Bartmann began the long defense process. The trial took place 5 years later and lasted 2 months.
To make matters worse, the law firm that Bartmann hired to represent him quit on the day the trial was due to start. His request for a period of 2 weeks to appoint new attorneys was denied. So Bartmann represented himself.
The government called 53 witnesses and produced over 1,000 exhibits. Bartmann didn't call a single witness. Nor did he produce any exhibits. However, he did cross-examine one witness - someone from the treasury department.
You see, the whole case turned on a single document and the date on that document. Was the date accurate or had the document been doctored?
Bill maintained that the document had been signed a couple of years earlier before his partner committed the crime. If this was the case this would prove that he had nothing to do with the crimes committed by his partner. The government held the view that the document had been altered.
After 3 days of cross-examining the witness finally revealed that in a report submitted to the Justice Department he had stated the odds were 60 million to one that the document had been tampered with. Bartmann had not seen this report prior to the trial.
When the jury heard this evidence it was a matter of case closed. The jury unanimously acquitted Bill Bartmann of all 57 counts.
Bill Bartmann was a free man but the cost of this trial had been enormous. It had caused the demise of CFS along with the jobs of 3,900 people. And Bartmann had to file for bankruptcy.
So he had much to be bitter, even angry, about. However, he decided to forgive all those who had wronged him. One of the toughest acts of forgiveness was forgiving John Ashcroft - the man who indicted him despite having evidence that proved his innocence.
Bartmann was away giving a speech when he discovered that John Ashcroft was due to be in town the next day as part of his book signing tour. So he decided to stay an extra day so he could meet him in person.
At the book signing, like the others present, Bartmann had to wear a name tag so he wrote on his "Hello my name is Bill".
When it was his turn at the book signing desk John Ashcroft greeted him.
"Bill! Where're you from, Bill."
"Well, Mr Ashcroft, I'm from Tulsa."
"Oh we had a big case there a couple of years ago."
"Yes, I know. It was mine."
Well, as you can imagine, the smile that was on John Ashcroft's face disappeared and he suddenly looked grey. The politician was at a loss for words. Bartmann continued,
"Mr Ashcroft, you knew now as you knew then that I was innocent before you indicted me. And your actions cost 39 hundred people their job, cost me 3.5 billion dollars and cost my family an undue amount of anguish. Mr Ashcroft I came here for one reason."
Tension hung heavy in the air.
He extended his hand and John Ashcroft instinctively took it. Bill Bartmann shook his hand, looked directly into his eyes and said.
"Mr Ashcroft, I forgive you."
With that he turned around and walked away oblivious of Ashcroft's reaction. It didn't matter.
Although, it may not have seemed like it at the time, Bill Bartmann's willingness to forgive those who wronged him actually empowered him to rebuild his life. Instead of being down and out he has gone from strength to strength and is helping even more people.
So remember that when you apply the Law of Forgiveness to your life, and start forgiving who have wronged you, your life will also be transformed.
The Law of Forgiveness is just one of many laws that govern our lives. For a deeper understanding of these laws and how forgiving can expand your life visit Understanding Universal Laws.
Tags: personal development, forgiving, bill bartmann, bartmann, law of forgiveness