Billy Graham and Forgiveness

I am reviewing the book, Billy Graham His Life and Influence, by David Aikman. One of the final chapters is about Graham's role as National Counselor. Aikman relates the remarks the minister made at the Memorial Service for the Oklahoma City Bombing victims. He said, "And long after the rubble is cleared and the rebuilding begins, the scars of this senseless and evil outrage will remain."

But Graham added that it was incumbent on everyone "to pray and forgive and love." He made the point that evil was a reality in the modern world but that evil would not have the final word.

It reminded me of the words of David Augsburger in "Caring Enough to Forgive".

In a world of flawed communication, community is possible through understanding others.

In a world of painful alienation, community is created by accepting others.

In a world of broken trust, community is sustained by forgiveness.

I hear of people with huge hurts rising up to forgive a perpetrator, a system, a society and I know that I have it within myself to do the same with the people who have torn up my world, and never looked back. Yet I choose to keep the alienation active and alive. I choose this to be my way. But I look back..too often.