|
|
|
|
"Forgiveness doesn't let the perpetrator off the hook, forgiveness
lets you off the hook" - James A. Smith
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Are you good at forgiving others? Your answer to the question
below may be shared on the air this Monday night.
I ran across a fascinating story from www.goodnewsnetwork.org
In 1993 the honors graduate of Stanford University, 26 year old Amy Biehl,
was stoned and stabbed to death. Ironically, it was by the very people she was
trying to help while in South Africa fighting against racism. Her parents ended
up moving from their privileged Newport Beach community and going to
South Africa to carry on Amy's fight. Today there are several Amy Biehl
centers throughout American and South Africa.
But it is the forgiveness the Biehls demonstrated for Amy’s killers that is most
amazing. Jon Jeter of the Washington Post describes it this way: Theirs is not
a story for cynics. It is about redemption and transformation. To South
Africans, the Biehls have offered their help. To Amy’s killers, they have
offered not just absolution but friendship, taking them to the movies or
dinner just as casually as they would an old friend. And from the deepest
hurt anyone can know, they have exhumed an unimaginable peace and a
stirring sense of purpose.
Easy Nofomela and Ntobeko Peni, along with two other young men, were
convicted of Amy’s slaying. They were part of a mob incited by a political
rally to kill whites. Four years ago, they asked for amnesty from
South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which set international
precedent, finding a way to heal a nation bitterly divided by freeing prisoners
who demonstrate a political motive for their crimes and who testify
fully and truthfully. The Biehls have become close friends and coworkers
with the two. “I know this sounds strange, but the one place I really feel
Amy’s spirit is with Easy and Peni.”
“We call them mother and father now,” Peni said. “I don’t know how they
found it in their hearts to forgive us, but I can tell you that it has greatly
enriched my life. I will never forget what we did that night, but I will also
never forget the kindness they have shown me when they had every reason to
hate me.”
The Biehls often are asked how they could forgive such horrendous acts. “We
have seen that to hate, to want revenge, to be angry consumes a tremendous
amount of energy, all of it negative, and all of it nonproductive. It is
completely selfish,” reasons Peter. “As Christians -- we’ve taught high school
Sunday school -- we would be heretics if we now did anything other than to
forgive. And finally, it is completely liberating. We can forgive, move forward,
and we’re at peace with ourselves.”
Question; What are some techniques you use in order to forgive others?
Please reply by 11am Monday morning. We will discuss different techniques
for forgiveness on Monday's show.
Knock'em alive!
James
You may comment here. You will need to click on "comments" and register
once if you haven't already.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inspiration: Video - Johnny the Bagger
|
|
|
|
|
A young man with down syndrome proves that we're all
significant and can make a difference. (3:36 sec)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You may wish to click the "play/pause" button to pause the video while it loads
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Humor: Video - The Serious Baby
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This baby doesn't know whether to be serious or funny
(:55 sec.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You may wish to click the "play/pause" button to pause the video while it loads
|
|
|
Radio: Forgiving the Unforgivable
Our radio show discusses the good, the clean, the pure, and the positive. If
you have an issue or story that shares some positive light, or one that needs
some positive light, please email radio@iwasborntowin.com or call
877 U.CAN.WIN (822.6946)
AM1280: Mondays 6-7pm, EST.
|
|
