I get questions sometimes about holding people accountable. And here’s how I see it: it’s not that we don’t hold people or companies accountable for things.
It’s about being able to invite accountability without punishment.
That’s the tricky part. Can we do it without punishment? Can we do it with Love in our hearts?
Let’s pick an example. Medical malpractice happens quite frequently. Or maybe somebody causes an accident that injures someone. I feel it’s reasonable to hold people accountable. But not to punish.
Not to punish, but to say, “This is not okay to harm people in this way. There needs to be some kind of accountability for it.”
But sometimes things are excessive because there’s so much anger, and so much hurt that people are vindictive in their holding people accountable. There’s a belief that punishment is required in holding people accountable. I don’t think it is.
When someone is responsible for the death of a loved one – the wound is so deep, the hurt is so big. It’s overwhelming. And there’s no amount of money that could ever, ever, ever compensate for the death of a loved one. None.
A hundred million dollars could never compensate for the loss of our loved one.
So it’s not about money. Accountability, in this kind of situation, is about people taking responsibility – without vindictiveness, no punishment.
A Course in Miracles reminds us: “Forgiveness lets the veil be lifted up that hides the face of Christ from those who look with unforgiving eyes upon the world.”
When we look at the world with unforgiving eyes, we can’t see the Christ within ourselves or anyone else.
Not being able to recognize the Christ within – there’s the real punishment.
We’re punishing ourselves by holding on to the grievance.
It’s challenging. But facing these difficulties is valuable to the healing of our consciousness.
Let’s invite accountability. And let’s release the punishment, so that we can be at Peace.
