Don’t take a hostage you’re not willing to shoot. ~ Mike Conaway

Resentments hold two people captive —
the one holding it as the prison guard
of the one resented, and both are just as bound.
What do you do to loosen the prisoner
you may care little about — or a great deal,
negatively — but as long as you’re guarding
you desperately need to free yourself
from the imprisonment. But how?
Forgiveness. Loosing the bonds.
Easier said than done. But that pesky old prayer,
the one about “forgive our trespasses as we forgive”
says it must be done. I’ve heard it described
as placing the person resented in a mental balloon
and watching it drift away, released, free.
Emmet Fox directed issuing a daily general amnesty,
forgiveness for all, no need for particulars.
“I freely forgive everyone.” Then for errant thoughts,
resentments recalled, bless the offender and dismiss the thought.
It seems so selfless — until you recall
the person resented may know nothing
of your grievance, may not feel imprisoned.
But you know, and you feel the release
when the hostages and hostage holder
find liberation.