Author: Brandy Metz, MSN, APRN, AGNP-C

Redemption

“Keep your face always towards the sunshine, and the shadows will fall behind you.” ~ Walt Whitman

One of the most profound and impactful tales of redemption is the story of Mary Magdalene. She is portrayed as the penitent prostitute who led a life of shame. Christ himself healed her, released her of her demons, and redeemed her. She became a devout disciple, and it is written that Jesus loved her more than the others. She was in equal standing with the Holy Virgin Mother Mary at the foot of the cross at Christ’s crucifixion. She was the first to bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus when he appeared to her alone at his empty tomb and called her by name. She is the first to testify of the good news, that Christ overcame death, as she declared to the others “I have seen the Lord.” What miraculous exceptional encounters we know she experienced as documented by the other disciples. Yet in the Bible, in history, and in every church on every Sunday, she is barely mentioned, and her story is never told. 

“That which has bound me has been annihilated and that which has led me astray has been overcome.” ~ Mary Magdalene

Her gospel was not canonized in the Bible. However, I often wonder what if it was? What would her story teach us about redemption? That not only can you recover from your past mistakes, but you can be completely restored, absolved, freed, and renewed to the level of the highest virtue. That you could be a testimony of resurrection. Instead of condemning others for their past, they could be fully redeemed and loved all the more for knowing darkness and choosing light. What a beautiful teaching that would be. 

 “For our gifts are greater than our transgressions.” ~ Ayn Rand

 Unfortunately, the power and beauty of Mary Magdalene’s message is lost on society. She is the ultimate story of redemption and restoration, and the embodiment of the core concepts of Christianity. Yet the point is missed completely, and they do the exact opposite of what they preach. Instead of celebrating her rise, she is swept under the rug, and forever referred to as a prostitute. Which is not even a verifiable fact. It is, and always has been, just a rumor. That insinuation was made in a 6th century sermon and has echoed throughout time. Whether she was defamed because of her own choices, oppressive circumstances, or the vicious lies of others to discredit her for their own purposes, no one can deny her rise to Sainthood.

“Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated.” ~ Oscar Wilde

Society may always hold you to your past indiscretions, true or sensationalized, and you may never be able to surmount your past failures in the eyes of others. It is not fair, it is not right, but so it is. No matter how far you’ve come, others may always brand you with a scarlet letter. It is detrimental and hypocritical. We are all fallible. We have all made mistakes and fallen short. We all bear our shames, and regrets, and have experienced dark times. Everyone has their own closets to tend to, and are in need of redeeming in their own ways. Society is saturated with the self-righteous, vapid, condescending, and unforgiving. That is their ugliness to contend with. “When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.” ~ Wayne Dyer. Not everyone seeks to evolve, mature, empathize, or humanize. Some people find satisfaction in being judgmental. Some people will never let you live down what’s past. But in the grand scheme of things, it does not matter. It’s not about them. 

“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” ~ John Steinbeck 

Think higher. We are here on a spiritual mission. Your soul is your only assignment. Yesterday is over the instant you release it. You are free to rise above and begin anew. You do not have to condone, condemn, or repeat your past choices. Your past is not your identity. You are not your mistakes. You are not your failures. You are a growing, learning, luminous soul. Your trials and your choices have brought you here. To this moment. To choose again. Though you may reap the consequences of the past, you can start over and make new choices. 

“You are one decision away from a completely different life.” ~ Mel Robbins

You can atone and be redeemed this instant. This is not lacking accountability or denying who you were or what has been done. The definition of a mistake is an ‘error preceding from faulty judgment and inadequate knowledge’. The definition of sin is ‘to miss the mark’. The definition of redeem means ‘to compensate for faults’. Redemption is an inside job. Acknowledge the ways in which you have missed the mark, and adjust your aim accordingly. Use better judgment. Compensate for your faults. Remedy your wrongs. Make better choices. 

“Everything which is done in the present, affects the future by consequence, and the past by redemption.” ~ Paul Coelho

Redemption is a choice. The choice to redeem yourself is available the instant you choose it. It does not matter how long or how far you have fallen short. At any time you can make new choices. At any time you can choose to live up to the spirit that is within you. Every moment is a new beginning, and a chance for a new start. A chance to become a new you. You make the rules. You can make a new identity for yourself and choose consistently to be that person. Re-define and recreate yourself. Transform yourself. It all begins with a moment of clarity, and a decision to compensate for your faults and aim higher. Redemption is instantaneous. The rest is time and consistency. With time and consistency your new life is undeniable. 

“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly. What doesn’t transmit light creates its own darkness.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

You can go from cautionary tale to a redemption story. Yours can be a testimony of tragedy to triumph. From zero to hero. The past is the story of how you came to be who you are right now. Your mistakes are what you have learned from and evolved from. Your errors were necessary for your spiritual mission. They are your catalyst, the events needed to precipitate growth and transformation. Do not be ashamed of what you have overcome. I have never understood why people strive to have a life story like, ‘it’s cool, it’s always been cool, and always will be cool.’ That’s boring and lacks depth. The best stories are the ones riddled with travesty, despair, shortcomings and their subsequent downfalls, and then followed by a turning point, miraculous redemption, and a climatic rise. There is so much power in that. Don’t you see that? Those are the stories we need to hear. Those are the stories of inspiration, vindication, beauty, and hope. Those are the stories that save. Sometimes your experiences are not all about you. Let your story resonate with others. Own your phoenix story. 

“In kind forgiveness will the world sparkle and shine, and everything you once thought sinful now will be reinterpreted as part of heaven. How beautiful it is to walk, clean and redeemed, and happy, through a world in bitter need of the redemption that your innocence bestows upon it!” ~ A Course in Miracles

Let your life be a testimony that you are not chained to your past mistakes. You are free. You do not have to be who you were. You are not who you were. You are who you choose to be. Consistently. You are living proof that you can rise from the ashes, and be completely redeemed and restored, and made greater than before. Pay no mind to the unevolved judgmental bores who know no depth, and would hold your past against you. Your mission is higher. You are a story of redemption. You have a story that can free and inspire others. You are a phoenix. Be a phoenix.