(Please note: In light of recent events concerning many of the authors here, I had my reservations about posting this. I want to be perfectly clear that this is in no way directed at anyone on Blogstream, but I do believe the message is of paramount importance.)
As I was watching my local news broadcast this morning, I heard a few simple words uttered by a soft spoken, plainly dressed woman that made me sit up and take notice. These words came in the aftermath of a terrible event that unfolded earlier in the week in the small town of Nickel Mines, PA. By now, we all know what happened there. Here are the words spoken by Katie Weaver, an Amish woman from Michigan who traveled to Pennsylvania to show her support for the community that has recently gone through this tragedy: "We can tell people about Christ and actually show you in our walk that we forgive, not just say it, but in our walk of life.”
As I was searching for this comment on the Internet news sites, I stumbled upon this exchange between the grandfather of two of the girls and a reporter:
"Is there anger towards the gunman's family?" asked a reporter.
"No," said the grandfather.
"Have you forgiven?"
"In my heart, yes."
"How is that possible?"
"Through God's help."
An Evangelical minister, Rob Shneck, was on hand lending support to the Amish community, and viewed an embalming of one of the girls, which the people of the community performed themselves. He says that there were many children on hand, and during the embalming process, the grandfather made sure to emphasize that “the children should not think of the man who did this as evil.”
Here's a link to a column by Ann Curry, on MSNBC's website
Now, this, of course, made me think about certain things.
How willing are any of us to forgive even the slightest of offenses to us, even years after they have occurred? How willing are we to forgive the trespasses of others even in matters that seem petty and childish in the light of what this grandfather has had to endure? Mere days after the event at the schoolhouse, the families of these slain children marched collectively to the assailant’s wife’s front door to offer forgiveness and sympathy. How willing would any of us be to do that? These people have not made a big show of standing on courthouse steps railing that community leaders “take action”. It is highly unlikely that you will see any of these families going to court to sue for emotional distress. They have, quite simply, forgiven the man who killed and hurt their children, and offered support and sympathy to his wife.
I constantly see little jokes about the Amish and their lifestyle. In our culture, we just simply can not understand why anyone would want to live so far removed from all of the amenities and conveniences of modern life. “How can you live without TV? The internet? Cars?” It is unthinkable to us that anyone could live so “uncivilized”. Yet, these rustic, “uncivilized” people have, in the last week, demonstrated to me a level of civility and a depth of reason that I can not say with any honesty I have possession of. I stand in awe of the strength this community has shown in its convictions, and I am humbled by these simple people’s humility and depth of compassion. Indeed, I envy the enormous level of humanity that they have displayed during what would, in our world, be an event that caused much “gnashing of teeth.” They will surely not forget the events that took place in that schoolhouse, but they will not dwell on it either; and that, my friends, is the difference between simplicity, and the complicated “we must fix every problem” mindset that we have in the “civilized” world.
We here in “civilized” America would want to persecute someone for such a heinous crime. We would call for someone’s head, or at least make sure that we received financial compensation for the loss of our children. Rather than offering support for the wife of this man (who undoubtedly needs it), we would have her in court quicker than you could say “frivolous lawsuit.” We would seek comfort in the system, our “mommy”, to give us a pocket full of money and the knowledge that some new law had been passed bearing the name of the children. Yet, there would be (and can be) no real comfort in this sort of activity, because it will never be “enough”. We become obsessed with “righting the wrongs”, overly preoccupied with attempting to save everyone else from any suffering, to the point of not dealing with our own suffering.
In just a matter of days after the incident, the grandfather of two slain children was able to admonish other children in the community that they should not think of the man who killed their friends and sisters as evil.
And, I believe he was sincere in his admonishment.
I believe he has forgiven and left it in his God’s hands.
The community of Nickel Mines, PA has taught me a very valuable lesson this week. I grieve for their loss, but I can no longer condemn the man who did it, for they do not. And I will think twice about condemning anyone else.
“He abused me, mistreated me, defeated me, robbed me.”
Harboring such thoughts keeps hatred alive.
“He abused me, mistreated me, defeated me, robbed me.”
Releasing such thoughts banishes hatred for all time.
Animosity does not eradicate animosity,
Only by loving kindness is animosity dissolved.
This law is ancient and eternal.
-Buddha
“You have heard it said an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you that you should not resist evil, but whosoever strikes you on the right cheek, you should turn and bare to him the other as well. And if he would sue you for your coat in a court of law, you should give him your cloak as well. And if he were to compel you to walk a mile with him, you should go two.”
-Jesus of Nazareth
“Repay kindness with kindness
Repay unkindness with kindness also,
In this way, true kindness will prevail.”
-The Tao Te Ching Verse 49
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