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Forgiveness

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By tao3
Words 581
Pages 3
The power of forgiveness In order for people to be happy and content, they must have inner peace. Lack of inner peace results in emotional disturbance, fear, anxiety, distrust and a life filled with restlessness and uncertainty. In order for people to be forgiven, they must first learn to forgive themselves. Self- forgiveness removes any obstacles caused by self- criticism and in return provides love, inner peace and happiness. Forgiving oneself does not erase past experiences, it just creates new ways to remember them. The memories from the past can be transformed into hope in the future. The bible makes no mention as to what Jesus looks like. In the movie Bella, Jose’s character bears a striking resemblance to many modern-day images of Jesus. He is an ordinary looking man; tall and lean with long flowing dark hair and beard, and wears a chef's jacket that favors a shroud. What is so remarkable about his character is his attitude and demeanor. He is non-judgmental, compassionate, empathic and understanding to Nina’s situation. At no point did he offer her any advice when she made the decision to have an abortion. Instead, he was supportive and lent her a shoulder to cry on. Because of his character, Nina could be able to trust again which in turn led to her giving birth to her daughter. Helping Nina was an act of atonement for Jose. For the past four years, he has struggled with the guilt of accidentally causing the death to a child. It is evident that he is remorseful and having a difficult time forgiving himself. He lacks inner peace and lives a life of restlessness and uncertainty. His journey to redemption was deterred because part of the process is also seeking forgiveness from the child’s mother. Jose attempted to reach out to her to no avail. By helping Nina and saving Bella’s life, Jose’s memory was not deleted; Bella became the hope for his future. One of the social commentaries inferred in Bella is the strong sediment toward family, family cohesiveness and cooperativeness with each other in the Hispanic culture. When facing rough times throughout your life, it's important to know and feel that family members are by your side to support and lend a helping hand. In Jose’s case, support came from Manny, who was there for him during his incarceration and gave him a job after he was released and his parents when he needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to. After hearing Nina’s story, Jose invited her to his parent’s home for dinner and support. They were very supportive of her and made her feel welcomed. The experience showed her how the healing power within a family could help her embrace the future. Everyone has a purpose in life, the path that one chooses is not always necessarily the one meant for them. The path destined for us is the one that takes us through life’s obstacles with lessons learned at the end. Bella is an exceptional movie about love, friendship, family, trust and self-forgiveness. It brings in conjunction two people from a different world with more in common than anticipated. Jointly, they found solace in each other that helped them overcome their burden.

Works Cited
Arranged. Dir.Diane Crespo,Stefan C. Schaefer. Prod. Sean Wolfington. Perf. Eduardo Verastegui and Tammy Blanchard. Roadside Attractions, 2009. DVD
Teke, Metin. "Bella" Comparative Religion 101. Passaic County Community College. Wayne, 24 May 2012.

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