OUT OF SELF TO FORGIVENESS

I am struck by the different ways the people of Boston and the people of Charleston are dealing with their separate tragedies. It being a given I know from my toenails up that we each must deal with our own tragedy in our own personal way...however that may be and without judgment.

I use the people of Boston and of Charleston because their tragedies are current, and their reactions are polar opposite. To me, and very generally, Boston is dealing "an eye for an eye" and Charleston is dealing "forgive 70 x 7."

The "eye for an eye" folks are hurting. In their hurt, they are showing forth anger...seething and seeking payback...probably hoping the murderer will die hurting at least as much as their loved ones hurt.

The "forgive" folks are hurting. In their hurt, they are showing forth compassion...sobbing, and seeking the solace of forgiveness...probably hoping for repentance for the murderer.

Each of the tragedies is beyond my heart's comprehension...almost more than my brain can process. I cannot possibly know exactly how I would react. I tried to imagine someone stealing Ruckus and...there. I cannot even write the words. So in my mind's eye seeing me loving the perpetrator is purely fantasy.

But I want to, and I want to because I can see with my own eyes how anger does but burn the angry; compassion heals the compassionate. I never thought I would see it so out there...in the proverbial black and white.

I wonder if American blacks know forgiveness is the answer because in their history they have had no other road to go...lashing out in anger was (is?) quite simply a death wish. As a people, American whites have never been forced to forgive...individuals may have but not as a people. They have had the fool's gold choice of anger, resentment, payback...which turns out to be a dead-end street leading to all the traps of self...self-pity, self-hate, self-aggrandizement, and, finally, if willing and blessed, out of self to God and forgiveness.

I am grateful that I can see...I can only pray that's how I will be.

Thank you.