The Power of forgiveness

Nelson Mandela’s funeral will begin in a few hours. Without a doubt, few individuals have touched so many lives for the better. The 20th Century had its Hitlers and Stalins each of which impacted the world around him in a transforming way. Many others have changed society for the better: Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi, for example. But for actual change within society, none compares to Nelson Mandela. He stands head and shoulders above all others for accomplishing an impossible task. Others who have influenced their society or the world for the better made significant inroads into the selfishness and evil of this world. They inspired, they moved to tears and action. They made us think that, perhaps, we could live in a better world. He joins their ranks, but supersedes them. Madiba forgave. This is his legacy; this is the inheritance he passes down to every South African and to all the world. Forgiveness. He lived the word. Yes, he was a pragmatist, using whatever means to accomplish his goals. He embraced violence, for example for a time. Imprisonment burned all the hatred from him and made him realize the power of forgiveness. Mark Twain says, “forgiveness is the scent of a violet shed on the heal that has crushed it.” Mandela exuded that scent and won over his persecutors and jailers. I do not know that he was explicitly Christian, but he lived the Christ life in a way that few others have. And the world stands up and takes note. This one lone South African political prisoner exhibits, no, he lived-forgiveness. “Father, forgive them…” Jesus cried out as they drove cruel spikes through his wrists. Between the Christ and Nelson Mandela, great forgivers are rare. By some wondrous miracle is it possible for us to seize this moment, this window into the other World and hang on to it? If so, how? How would we be different? Would radical Islam give up its vendettas? Would Israel make peace with Palestinians? Would china release it prisoners? Would we release ours? Could we find it in our corporation hearts to treat those who make and sell for us as human beings and not just cogs in a an endlessly-turning gear? Can we, the exploited of the world, find it in our hearts to forgive our exploiters? Can we, individuals all, find that place within ourselves to forgive the cheating spouse, the wounding bitter tongue, the thief of our retirement funds? These are big shoes into which to fit our very small feet. Let’s not shrink the shoes this time; let’s grow into and walk in them. 12/9/13