The Gift of Betrayal
by Larry Witzleben, L.M.T.
This Gospel of Judas has me looking at relationship upsets in a new light.
I’m heartened by the revelation of this latest Gospel. I’ve thought for a long time that what Judas did was essential to Jesus’s purpose. Judas wasn’t a bad guy. His humanness cast him for the role that had to be played. Had he not handed Jesus over to the secular authorities, no crucifixion could have taken place. No crucifixion … no resurrection … where would we be now?
Jesus was no sentimental fool. He is probably the most conscious, aware Being ever to walk on the earth. He knew what was going on around Him at all times. He helped to script, cast and block His own drama. He was infinitely kind and compassionate in a way I cannot fully fathom but can only seek to emulate in my tiny, human ways. He loved from an Imperturbable vantage point I cannot attain, because He saw, and saw into, people and events with a Uniquely singular clarity. But He pulled no punches. He enjoyed himself but didn’t engage in enabling sentimentality. Compassionate tough love, actually. He knew why He was here and was never not on track, and at every turn summoned all who could hear Him to be fully who they were and could become.
“Christian:” To walk as Christ. No more, no less, no fanfare, no righteous posturing, just walk the walk. That’s a lot of responsibility. Humbling. But I digress.
What is the gift in betrayal by a friend or loved one? How does it move my life into greater freedom? How can it, if only I will see? How does it allow me to jettison what I needed to let go of anyway?
What is the gift of being disillusioned, of having my illusions torn away? Disillusionment may hurt; being jarred from sleep can be disturbing. With illusion ripped away, truth and clarity can open before me. Truth is always a bigger space, and clarity is always a good thing if we want to move forward into authentic and fulfilling lives.
Freedom! Freedom from inauthentic, noncontributing relationships. Freedom to know myself more accurately, to live more truly. To stop holding on to what no longer serves me. In which case, the betrayal, the disillusionment, was an enormous gift. And if we really look at it, the timing was exquisite if not also overdue.
To those who have seemingly betrayed me, I can only, in time, be grateful. Forgiveness to all concerned – including to myself for my part in the drama – frees everyone, especially me.
Now to keep developing my ability to see, so that forgiveness – truly – becomes the reflex, and freedom, the undelayed next step.
Larry Witzleben, speaker and author on the theme of vibrant health and health creation as the Natural State, is a Licensed Massage Therapist with Florida Hospital and in private practice where he is an energy practitioner as well, and is a certified instructor of Qigong. To schedule an appointment or one of his talks, contact Larry at 407-447-3469 or at info@LarryWitzleben.com.
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