Welcome to Forgiveness Factor! We are here to help you forgive in an unforgiving world and see how forgiving is a part of a mentally healthy life.
We invite you to listen to some short audio boosts, sign up to receive written forgiveness boosts, find out where Tim is speaking, learn a little bit more about forgiveness, connect with the International Forgiveness Institute and more.
Combining research with lived experience to bring a unique point of view.
Wondering where Tim might be speaking next? Check out the Speaking page.
Forgiveness Factor reflecting on 12/16/24
On Monday, December 16th, a fifteen year old killed two people and injured six others, before killing herself at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. In Stoughton, where I live, we have families who are part of the Abundant Life Christian School Family. We know teachers, administrators, children. For Tuesday, December 17th, I was able to record a Forgiveness Factor, reflecting on this tragedy. I hope you will join me in praying for all the families affected by this event. If you are able to help in other ways, I hope you take the opportunity. See Life 102.5 for ideas.
Transcript of the recording
Just like many of you, I sat stunned when I heard about the shooting. I stepped back from work and began praying. I started to search for any news I could find. And praying. I began think about my friends, my neighbors, my Abundant Life people – past and present. And praying. I just don’t understand. I don’t understand how much anger, how much hopelessness it takes for someone to choose to take a life. How disconnected they must feel. I don’t understand how afraid the teachers and students were. I don’t have a clue at the depth of loss families and friends are feeling. I don’t understand why. I have a lot of questions and I have a lot of feels. Sadness, anger, thankfulness, sorrow, compassion, confusion, so many feels going up and down. Even with everything I don’t know and I don’t understand, I’d like to share with you what I do know? I know that everyone affected by the tragedy has in some way been hurt and traumatized. I also know that everyone affected by the tragedy can heal. I know they will find strength and they will find meaning and they will continue on. Maybe not today, not his month, or even this year. Grief is on its own personal schedule for each of us. But healing is possible and hope is possible even now. You see we have a God who grieves alongside of us. We have a worldwide body of believers that prays with us. We have a Holy Spirit who intercedes for us. We have Jesus who understands us. He can handle our grief, our anger, our confusion, our sorrow and he will never be shocked, never be overwhelmed, he will never turn away. We can turn to him and unleash all those feels and all the questions and he will be there. As I pray, I pray that we will come together and hold each other strongly and compassionately. That we will provide for each other’s needs. That we will allow each other space to grieve, to recover, to heal. That we will take the time to mourn. And we will take the time to love those around us. You see, that’s the other thing I know. I know Love Wins. Violence will not win. Sorrow will not win. Anger will not Win. Love has won, love is winning, and love will win.
Forgiveness Audio Boosts
Forgiveness Factor is excited to partner with Life102.5 FM radio to talk forgiveness. Every Tuesday morning, around 7:15am and 9:15am, you can listen to a conversation with Tim Markle, from Forgiveness Factor, and Dave & Natalie, from Mornings with Dave & Natalie. Tune in at 102.5FM around the Madison area or online at https://life1025.com/.
December 2024
Forgiveness Factor is currently seeking sponsorships for 2025. There are different levels of sponsorship available — from sponsoring one Audio Forgiveness Boost or sponsoring multiple Boosts. You will be recognized on air, in the Forgiveness Boost email blast, and online at Forgiveness Factor. Other opportunities are available to spread the message of forgiveness at music festivals and other events. Find out more by emailing us at Tim@forgivenessfactor.org.
Listen to past Audio Boosts on our Audio Boost page.
The words we say
If you are like me, you grew up having to say “I forgive you” when someone said “I’m sorry.” As you got older, you may have learned people don’t always say “I’m sorry.” And the words “I forgive you” didn’t magically make forgiveness happen. Or maybe you listened to stories, teachings or sermons on forgiveness and you were convinced that forgiveness was a good idea. But no-one really taught you how to forgive.
Forgiveness? No way!
We have all been hurt.
Sometimes that hurt can change us.
Sometimes we can’t let it go.
Sometimes we just want to forget it ever happened.
Sometimes we try to hide it.
Sometimes we try and try and try to get rid of the anger, the pain, the disappointment, the shame, the uncomfortableness.
We even yell at it to go away.
But it’s still here.
Some of us try avoidance, drinking, isolation, yelling, blaming, eating–
anything to get rid of the pain, to deal with the resentment.
There is hope!
For thousands of years philosophers and theologians have promoted forgiveness. Forgiveness is core to many worldviews. A few decades ago, psychologists and others began to test and research how people forgive and if forgiveness is good for us. The great news is their work has resulted in ways we can learn to forgive one another. AND what they have learned is available to everyone. It is available to you.
Tim Markle has been teaching forgiveness for many years in Wisconsin. He has been on his forgiveness journey for much longer than that. In addition to his work with Forgiveness Factor, Tim is also a contributing writer and speaker for the International Forgiveness Institute. He is available to speak about forgiveness and other topics. Tim’s teachings are based on the fantastic work of Dr. Robert Enright, “the father of forgiveness research.”
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Recent Events:
In November, my son Hunter and I were able to travel to Orlando for the 35th Anniversary of the National Federation of Families Conference. Hunter led a dynamic breakout on how he uses music, specifically hard rock and heavy metal music to help him with his mental health. Hunter is a young adult autistic who also has anxiety and depression. It’s complicated. He connected with so many other young adults and spoke from his heart. He is amazing! I was able to lead a breakout called, Bringing You to Life! This was our third year presenting at this conference. I have presented on the Role of Forgiveness in Mental Health, the Role of Forgiveness in Recovery, and Forgiveness as Resilience. Hunter has shared his story of Autism and Anxiety: Help!, and Why Won’t My Brain Shut up? We love the people we have met at NFF! It gives us a fantastic place to talk about the intersection of disability and mental health, inclusion, and forgiveness.
In October, Forgiveness Factor was a sponsor for Wisconsin’s 20th Annual Mental Health & Substance Use Recovery Conference. We (Hunter and I) met a lot of awesome people and hopefully helped some people consider forgiveness in their recovery journey. We are so thankful for the people who financially supported our sponsorship! You are making a difference. Hopefully we will be able to afford to sponsor the conference again in 2025 (probably around $1000) and maybe we will have breakout session proposal accepted so we can really dig into the Role of Forgiveness in Recovery. We are hopeful we can sponsor the Wisconsin Peer Recovery Conference in April of 2025. We would really like to help Peer Specialists engage in their personal journey of forgiveness and help others learn the benefits of forgiveness. Scroll down to see how you can partner with us!
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Forgiveness Factor is now a Creator on Buy Me a Cup of Coffee! This is an easy way to donate a little or a lot. Once or often. We come across opportunities to share about the power of forgiveness and some opportunities cost time AND money (or ask for a donation). We are thankful to the Stoughton Area Community Foundation for supporting our work in Stoughton, and sometimes we want to reach Mt. Horeb, or Whitewater, the Dells, or La Crosse. Even Chicago, Oklahoma City, or Washington D.C., or Orlando. We appreciate anything you can do to help support sharing forgiveness.
Forgiveness Boost
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