The Hard Work — Forgiving ICE

For those of us who practice forgiveness regularly, it often settles into a familiar routine: forgiving the same person over and over again.

That person is usually someone we spend a lot of time with. A spouse. A family member. A friend. A coworker.

People’s quirky or unconscious behavior can be annoying. And yes, it can be challenging to forgive them sometimes, especially when they do things that cause suffering for us.

But honestly, this kind of forgiveness is fairly run-of-the-mill compared to what is going on in the larger world around us today.

Right now, there is all kinds of “big” and frightening behavior that calls for forgiveness. Some of it requires what I would call expert-level forgiveness.

And for many of us in the United States, over the past months, we have been given a true Black Diamond assignment:

Forgiving ICE.

What We Are Witnessing

We have watched agents mistakenly haul citizens into custody.
We have seen families disrupted.
Children arrested.
People sent to war-torn African countries where they are promptly jailed.
Due process ignored.
Legal protections removed.
Green card holders detained.

People disappearing, while families have no idea where they are.

And now, in some cases, we are witnessing protesters — people within their lawful rights to observe and record — being shot and killed.

It is frightening.
It is terrible.
And we are all watching it.

As a nation, we are uncomfortable. Upset. Tense. Traumatized. Confused. Angry. Heartbroken.

So the question becomes:

What do we do with all of this?
How do we even begin to process it?

What Will Not Heal This

First and foremost, anger, fear, and hatred are not the solution.

In fact, they are the greatest hindrance to any real solution.

They poison our minds.
They harden our hearts.
They block our connection to Spirit.
They separate us from our own peace.

And as shocking as it may sound…

We must forgive ICE.

Why Forgiveness Feels So Wrong Here

The idea of forgiving major trespassers is often completely contrary to logic.

It feels like we are rewarding bad behavior.
Like giving the school bully a hall pass.
Like excusing cruelty.

It almost feels irresponsible.

But forgiveness is not a reward we hand out to “bad guys.”

It is something far deeper than that.

What Forgiveness Really Is

Forgiveness is a spiritual act.

It is how we affirm our love for all of humanity.
It is how we recognize the great Oneness of the collective.
It is how we stay connected to God.

It is how we express gratitude for the gift of life and love given to us by a Creator who made each one of us in His image — and loves us all equally.

Even when what we do here on psycho planet looks, to human eyes, like “bad behavior.”

In God’s mind, it is not “bad.”

It is unconscious.

It is free will being exercised without awareness.

God does not judge.
God is always love.

When People Forget Who They Are

Sometimes we come here and forget who we are.

We forget our innate goodness.
We forget that we are cherished.
We forget that we are safe in God’s love.

We get caught up in fear, power, control, systems, and ego.
We forget our truth.

And then we do selfish things.
Stupid things.
Harmful things.

Nobody is denying that real suffering is caused.

But what is undeniable is this:

That suffering must be forgiven.

Not excused.
Not ignored.
Not justified.

Forgiven.

Seeing With God’s Eyes

God sees the highest potential in all of us.
He does not fixate on our worst moments.
He does not define us by our lapses.

And that is what we are being asked to learn to do.

We can know that certain behaviors are wrong.
We can work to change unjust systems.
We can vote. Advocate. Speak. Act.

And at the same time…

We must forgive.

Because forgiveness is how we stay free.

Why We Must Do This for Ourselves

When we hold hatred, rage, and bitterness in our hearts, we suffer.

We lose access to Spirit.
We lose clarity.
We lose peace.
We lose joy.

Our nervous systems become overwhelmed.
Our minds become trapped in fear loops.

Forgiveness is not about letting injustice continue.

It is about refusing to let injustice destroy our souls.

(If you’d like to explore how forgiveness restores our connection to love, you might find this helpful: Unblocking Our Connection to Love.)

The Spiritual Challenge of Our Time

This is not easy work.

This is advanced forgiveness.

This is where spiritual teachings become real — or remain theoretical.

It is easy to forgive people who apologize.
It is harder to forgive people who don’t think they’ve done anything wrong.
It is hardest to forgive institutions that cause widespread harm.

And yet…

This is exactly where forgiveness is most powerful.

Our Invitation

We are being invited to see deeper.
To love wider.
To forgive harder.

To hold this truth:

Every person involved — even when unconscious — is still created by God.
Still loved.
Still capable of awakening.
Still more than their worst actions.

We can work for justice.
We can pray for change.
We can support the vulnerable.

And we can forgive.

All at once.

That is the hard work.

And that is the holy work.

(For practical guidance on how to forgive in difficult situations, see A Simple Forgiveness Prayer.)

When Your Mind Won’t Stop: How to Find Peace When Life Crashes In

Sometimes the world just crashes in on you, and no matter how hard you try, your mind won’t let go. You replay the problem from every angle. You can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t concentrate. Your head becomes one endless loop of worry, fear, loss, or “What am I going to do?”

Photo by Meral Avdanlı on Unsplash

When you’re stuck in that kind of mental storm, here are a few things that truly help—simple, practical, and spiritually powerful.

1) Eat

I know this sounds too basic when you’re overwhelmed. But your nervous system literally cannot process grief or problem-solving without nourishment. A little soup, a piece of toast, anything gentle. Just get something in your stomach. You cannot heal on an empty tank.

2) Sleep

Yes… simple again. But when your system is shocked, heartbroken, overwhelmed, or panicked, you must let your mind rest. You won’t feel better—or think clearly—until you’ve slept. Lie down. Even if you don’t fall asleep, just let your body be horizontal and supported. Rest is medicine.

3) Sit Against a Tree

I discovered this during a heartbreak in college. I was drowning in feelings I didn’t know how to handle. Instinctively, I walked outside, found a tree on campus, and sat with my back against it. I didn’t know why, I just needed it.

Something happened.

Trees hold perspective. They have seen everything come and go: storms, suffering, seasons, deaths, new beginnings. They don’t panic. They don’t hurry. They don’t collapse from worry. They stand and let the weather pass.

Photo by Pavlo Semeniuk on Unsplash

Sit with your back against a tree. Let it share its peace with you. Let it show you that life moves on, things dissolve, new opportunities come, and what hurts now will not hurt forever.

It sounds too simple. I know.
Do it anyway. It works.

4) Turn It Over to the Holy Spirit

Now for the spiritual part—the most powerful step of all.

There comes a point when you’ve thought your problem through from every direction. You’ve stewed, cried, fretted, analyzed, and exhausted yourself. You’ve figured out what you can do… and what you can’t. You’ve learned what you can from the situation.

At this point, thinking is no longer helping you.
It’s hurting you.

That’s when you turn it over to the Holy Spirit.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

In A Course in Miracles, God is pure creative love—an unstoppable flow of healing energy. But love doesn’t analyze, correct, or negotiate. Love doesn’t speak in words. So the Holy Spirit exists as the “Voice for God,” the inner translator who helps us when we are scared, confused, overwhelmed, or suffering.

The Holy Spirit is the One who:

• helps you solve problems,

• shows you another way to see things,

• brings peace where logic can’t,

• helps you accept what you can’t fix.

Most importantly, He helps you stop the mental loop that is torturing you.

How to Turn It Over

It’s simple:

You tell the Holy Spirit:

I’ve done everything I know how to do.
I’m giving this to You now.
Please take it and bring the highest, best solution for everyone involved.

That’s it.
You hand it over.

And then—when your thoughts come back again (because they will)—you don’t start the whole nightmare loop again. You catch yourself and gently say:

No, I’ve given this to the Holy Spirit.

You may do this a hundred times a day at first.
That’s okay.
Each time you release it again, your mind clears a little more. Peace begins to creep in. Your soul starts breathing again.

Piece by piece, you stop suffering and start returning to life.

Let the Holy Spirit Do the Heavy Lifting

Life is often out of our control. Even with our best efforts, things go sideways. There is often nothing we can “fix.” But we don’t have to. Not alone.

Ask for help.
Turn it over.
Let the Holy Spirit work it out in the highest way possible for everyone involved.

He will do it.
He is happy to do it.
You just have to let Him.

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love.
My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon →
Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release. View the deck on Etsy →
Want to receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails? Sign up and get insights, tools, and inspiration to deepen your practice of forgiveness. Sign up here →   

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.

— Sue Pipal

A Simple Forgiveness Prayer

 Sometimes forgiveness feels complicated, but it doesn’t have to be.

This simple three-line prayer can open your heart, soften your judgments, and reconnect you to the truth of who we all really are.

I see you as you are.
I accept you as you are.
I send you love and blessings.

These words are simple, but their meaning reaches deep.

I see you as you are

In my mind, I allow you to stand before me.
I see your humanness.
Your vulnerability.
Your fears, your foibles, your blind spots.
All the places where you can be difficult.

But I also see beyond all that.

I see the higher truth of who you are.

You were created by God — and God creates using only one substance: Himself.
His energy. His essence. Love.

Think of divine love like an endless current of electricity, flowing freely until something blocks it. That flow is our Source. That flow is our truth. That flow is the God-substance from which we are made.

Here in this earthly experience, people forget who they really are.
They disconnect. They block the current.
And when the flow of love is blocked, behavior gets messy.

But none of that changes the truth of their identity.

When I say I see you as you are, I am choosing to see the whole truth — not just the personality in front of me, but the divine light behind it.

I accept you as you are

We can accept people as they are — not because their behavior is perfect, but because the person underneath the behavior is still holy.

The only real “sin” anyone has is forgetfulness:
forgetting their true source, forgetting who created them, forgetting the love they were made from.

And honestly, we all do it.
Some more than others.
Some more dramatically than others.
But every one of us slips into separation thinking at times.

Acceptance means recognizing:

This behavior is not who you are.
Your fear is not who you are.
Your mistakes are not who you are.

I accept you because I see the larger truth of you.

I send you love and blessings

This is the gift of forgiveness.

When we look beyond blocked love — beyond the temporary ego-self — and see someone’s higher identity, it becomes easy to extend love.

We are sending love and blessings not to the small, confused personality, but to the equal, divine Self within them.

Because:

• They are what we are.

• We are all made of the same God-stuff.

• We are each an intrinsic part of the wholeness of God.

• We are all precious and cherished equally by Him.

If God can love this person…
If God never loses sight of their innocence…
Then surely, in this moment, we can send a little love too.

This simple prayer opens that channel.

I see you as you are.
I accept you as you are.
I send you love and blessings.

This is forgiveness.
This is freedom.
This is love remembering itself.

Want to go deeper into forgiveness and inner peace?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love.

• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices.

• Let daily affirmations support you — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release.

• Browse more forgiveness tools, art, and daily reminders in our Etsy Shop →

• Want to receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails? Sign up and get insights, tools, and inspiration to deepen your practice → Sign up here

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.
— Sue Pipal

Letting Go Without Resignation: A Talk by Rev. Nichola Johnson

Forgiveness and letting go walk hand in hand.

One softens the heart. The other frees the soul.
So when we stumble across a teaching that expands our understanding of letting go in a truly profound way, it deserves to be shared widely.

A Talk That Truly Blew Me Away

Recently, my dear friend, Rev. Nichola (Nikki) Johnson, gave a talk at Centers for Spiritual Living Tahoe-Truckee on the subject of Letting Go.

I don’t often stop everything I’m doing to rewatch a spiritual lesson — but this one?
I’ve already listened three times.

It is packed with insights, stories, and perspectives that gently stretch you beyond wherever you are sitting in your forgiveness journey. Truly, each time I watch it, I hear something new. It’s that rich.

Nikki is one of the most brilliant, charming, deeply spiritual people I’ve ever known. An interfaith minister with a lifetime of contemplative study, she carries wisdom from around the world — including the many months each year she spends in India — and delivers it with such warmth and clarity that you can’t help but grow.

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Meet Nikki and Her Work

Through her organization, Shared Wisdom, Nikki offers sanghas, meditations, and soul-nourishing retreats under the beautiful banner of “Fragrance of Joy.”

You can explore her work here:
👉 sharedwisdom.org

And if you want to travel the world with her through images and reflections, follow:
👉 Instagram: @sharedwisdomorg

Her presence radiates joy, depth, and genuine compassion — and this talk is no exception.

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Why You Should Watch This Talk

If you are working on forgiveness, acceptance, emotional healing, or simply want more peace in your heart…

This talk is a must-see.

It will:

• Expand your understanding of what it means to truly let go--you may think you are already letting go, but trust me, Nikki will point out places where you are not...yet

• Show us how we often clench, grasp and control in an effort to "feel safe" or "create a better life"

• Help you understand what it really means to truly be in grace

• Allow you to place even more trust in spirit to create positively in our lives, and that means sometimes allowing spirit to expand on the limited possibilities we see for ourselves

• Support your forgiveness practice in a powerful new way

Nikki takes the concept of letting go and lifts it onto a whole new level — not as a cliché, but as a living spiritual practice that opens the door to profound freedom.

You will be changed by it. I certainly was:

Want to go deeper into forgiveness and inner peace?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love.

• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices.

• Let daily affirmations support you — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release.

• Browse more forgiveness tools, art, and daily reminders in our Etsy Shop →

• Want to receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails? Sign up and get insights, tools, and inspiration to deepen your practice → Sign up here

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.
— Sue Pipal

Forgiveness Has Changed: From Personal Wounds to Global Healing

Back When Forgiveness Was Personal

I started writing this blog in 2013 and wrote steadily about forgiveness for two years. Then I quit. It wasn’t that I lost interest in forgiveness—I just felt like I had said most of what I wanted to say.

Back then, forgiveness mostly meant working through our personal relationships. People felt betrayed by their spouses and boyfriends/girlfriends, upset with their children, angry at their parents or siblings, and frustrated or bullied by co-workers. Those personal hurts were the everyday emotional terrain many of us lived with. That’s what brought most of us to forgiveness work in the first place.

The Shift to Global Forgiveness

I always taught forgiveness on a larger scale too, and my book touches on forgiving the world and its events. But even then, the focus was mostly personal because that’s where people felt their pain most directly.

Now, it feels like everything has changed. The forgiveness issues many of us are wrestling with today are global.

We still experience pain in our closest relationships, of course. But now so much of the suffering we feel comes from watching what is happening in the world.

War. Cruelty. Famine. Indifference.
People turning away from compassion.
The collective heart seems tired and overwhelmed.

A World Divided

Perhaps the biggest forgiveness challenge of all today is the political divide. In the U.S. — and in many other countries — we are at war with one another. And it is heartbreaking to witness.

We are frustrated, angry, and disappointed with “the other side.” We are loud, reactive, and exhausted. We hurl insults, tolerate deception, and excuse cruelty, all in the name of politics. Everyone seems to believe that they alone know the truth — and anyone who disagrees must be ignorant or immoral.

It’s exhausting.
It’s painful.
And it’s spiritually draining.

Forgiving the World We Live In

I’ve already written about how to forgive world leaders who seem selfish, cruel, or power-hungry. It’s one of the most visited posts on this blog, and for good reason — it touches on something that feels almost impossible to do.

You can read it here:
→ Forgiving World Leaders

When I work with global forgiveness, I usually start there — at the top.
I forgive the powerful.
I forgive the decision-makers.
I forgive the public figures who seem to be driving division, harm, or suffering.

Then I work my way closer to home.
I forgive the supporters.
I forgive the people who are angry, scared, or misled.
I forgive the conversations that feel like a wall instead of a bridge.

And — this part is essential —
I forgive myself.

I forgive myself for my reactions.
I forgive myself for the ways I add to the conflict.
I forgive myself for forgetting to see the divine spark in others when everything feels overwhelming.

There is a clear, step-by-step forgiveness process in the Forgiving World Leaders post that can guide you through this. If you’d like to participate in this kind of healing work — for yourself and for the world — that post is a powerful place to begin.

Forgiving World Leaders

Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash

Healing the Collective

A Course in Miracles teaches that when one person shifts from fear to love, thousands are affected.

This isn’t metaphor — it is how consciousness works.
Minds are joined. Hearts are connected. We influence each other, silently, without even speaking.

Your forgiveness is not just personal.
Your forgiveness is participatory.
It is your contribution to the healing of humanity.

One heart at peace creates more peace.
One mind that stops judging helps others soften, too.
One soul choosing love becomes a quiet light the world can feel.

Forgiveness is how we help heal the world — from the inside out.

Photo by Michael Thaxton on Unsplash

Want to go deeper into forgiveness and inner peace?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love.

• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices.

• Let daily affirmations support you — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release.

• Browse more forgiveness tools, art, and daily reminders in our Etsy Shop →

• Want to receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails? Sign up and get insights, tools, and inspiration to deepen your practice → Sign up here

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.
— Sue Pipal

The Metta Deck Story: A Journey Into Forgiveness and Blessing

Forgiveness has been the heart of my spiritual path for many years, and one thing I’ve learned is this: forgiveness isn’t something we do once and move on from. It’s a practice — a way of returning to love again and again.

I wanted to create something that would make forgiveness simple, beautiful, and tangible — something you could actually hold in your hands, draw from for guidance, and feel supported by. That inspiration grew into the Forgiveness Metta Deck — fifty-two cards filled with messages of compassion, release, and blessing.

The deck was born out of my book Forgiveness Is the Key to Happiness and the many years I’ve spent writing, teaching, and living the principles of forgiveness. It is both a spiritual tool and a gentle companion for your daily life.

The Metta Forgiveness Card Deck--52 playing size cards 

What the Metta Deck Is

The Forgiveness Metta Deck is a collection of prayers, affirmations, and contemplations designed to bring peace to any situation. It can be used in many ways:

• As a prayer of blessing for someone you love.

• As a forgiveness practice for someone who has hurt you.

• As a path to self-forgiveness, because if all people are worthy of God’s love, then you must be too.

Each card offers a doorway back to truth — helping you see others (and yourself) as whole, innocent, and loved by the Divine.

See the full deck on Etsy →

The Seven Parts of the Deck

Each group of cards represents a layer of the forgiveness journey — from offering blessings to releasing judgment to remembering our shared holiness.

🌿 7 Metta Prayer Cards

Each of these is a line from the traditional Metta or loving-kindness prayer.
They’re meant to bless yourself and others with thoughts such as: May you be happy. May you be safe. May you live with ease.
You can use them to send light to someone you love, or to someone you’re struggling to forgive.

🌿 7 Highest-Self Forgiveness Cards

These cards are drawn from one of my favorite forgiveness processes — one that sees every person, no matter what they’ve done, as their highest self.
They help you look past behavior and remember Spirit. You can use them to bless someone you love or to forgive someone who has caused pain.
When you see their holiness, you remember your own.

🌿 16 A Course in Miracles Cards

These cards distill key teachings and direct quotes from A Course in Miracles.
They remind us that “Forgiveness is the key to happiness” and that what we give, we receive.
Each one serves as a simple anchor for reflection, meditation, or journaling.

🌿 3 Bible Verse Cards

Scriptural reminders that divine love is vast and merciful.
They show that forgiveness is not just a philosophy — it’s a universal truth shared across all faiths.

🌿 11 Contemplation Cards

These are quiet reflections that invite you inward. They ask gentle questions like:
Where am I still holding on?
What might forgiveness set free in me today?
They’re ideal for meditation or journaling and help you see how forgiveness deepens over time.

🌿 12 Forgiveness Process Cards

These are short, practical exercises to help you see the “other” as a perfect creation of God.
When you can forgive them — truly see their innocence — something shifts inside you.
You realize that what’s true for them must also be true for you.
This is how forgiving others becomes a doorway to self-forgiveness and inner peace.

Hold the peace in your hands — view the Forgiveness Metta Deck on Etsy →

How to Use the Deck

There’s no right or wrong way to use the Metta Deck.

You might:

• Draw a card each morning and let its message guide your day.

• Use it as a focus for meditation or prayer.

• Pull a card when you’re upset and let it soften your heart.

• Share a card with a friend who’s hurting.

Many people keep the deck beside their bed, on their altar, or at their desk — a quiet reminder that peace is always one forgiving thought away.

The Creative Journey

Designing this deck was a joy from start to finish. Every word, color, and font was chosen to radiate calm and hope.

I remember holding the first printed deck in my hands — such a small box, yet it felt like a lifetime of teaching and practice resting there. A little miracle, really.

Each card feels like a whisper from Spirit saying, “You are loved. You are forgiven. You are free.”

A Gift of Forgiveness

My deepest hope is that the Metta Deck helps you remember your own light — and the light in others.
That it reminds you to pause, breathe, and choose peace.
That it becomes your quiet companion on the path of forgiveness and self-acceptance.

You can find the Forgiveness Metta Deck on Etsy →.

May it bless you, comfort you, and help you return — again and again — to love. 

Protect Your Peace: Forgive to Stay Sane in a Chaotic World

The World Feels Upside Down

Lately, it seems like everything is upside down. Headlines are filled with trauma, conflict, and fear worldwide. Political strife, division, and polarization dominate the news, especially here in the U.S., where everyone seems angry at everyone else. Polls show that much of the population is unhappy with how things are going, and no one seems to be on the same page about anything.

Even if we aren’t living in real danger or starvation, this constant stress seeps into our daily lives, creating tension, worry, and anxiety. How can we feel better? And more importantly, how can we help bring about unity and peace in our communities and the world at large?

Forgiveness as a Personal Shield

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful tools we have to reclaim our personal peace. When we forgive, we release fear, resentment, and anger. We flip the switch from fear to love.

And here’s the beautiful part: your personal peace doesn’t just stay with you. Because we are all part of a collective, every act of forgiveness spreads love outward. Even one person’s shift from fear to love can influence many others.

All Minds are Connected

The Global Ripple of Forgiveness

A Course in Miracles tells us that switching from fear to love can affect thousands. Forgiveness is exactly that switch. When we let go of resentment, when we release judgment, we don’t just heal ourselves—we become a source of light and love for others, near and far.

The world doesn’t need more anger or division. It needs hearts that are willing to forgive, hearts that radiate peace and understanding. Your practice of forgiveness may seem small, but its ripple effect is profound.

Those Ripples Keep Spreading Outward 

Taking Action Daily

You don’t have to change the world in a single day. Start with your own mind. The next time you read scary headlines or become aware of oppositional political attitudes around you, notice your own judgment, irritation, or fear. Pause. Forgive them all.  Forgive it all. Forgive yourself. Let it go. (For practical advice on How To Forgive World Leaders, see here.  For more thoughts on Forgiving the World, see here.  Also, my book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness) offers many easy forgiveness practices and tips.)

Then notice how your energy shifts. Your calm, your clarity, your love can touch others in ways you may never even see. One heart at peace can inspire another, and then another. That’s the power of forgiveness. That’s how personal peace becomes collective peace.

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love.

• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon →

• Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release. View the deck on Etsy →

• Browse more forgiveness tools, art, and daily reminders in our Etsy Shop →

• Want to receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails? Sign up and get insights, tools, and inspiration to deepen your practice of forgiveness → Sign up here

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.
— Sue Pipal