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THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
Alberta Daily Herald Tribune, Canada
April 18 2013
By Minister's Message
Thursday, April 18, 2013 1:37:51 MDT PM
Brian Zahnd, in his book Unconditional? tells an amazing story which
took place during the Armenian Genocide of 1915-17. An Armenian home
was invaded by soldiers, the parents killed, the daughters raped and
given to the soldiers. The oldest daughter was kept by the leading
officer for his personal use.
Eventually this girl was able to escape and became a nurse. In a twist
of fate she found herself working in a hospital ward which cared
for the soldiers of the army that had invaded her home. One night,
she recognized the man who had killed her parents and committed
the terrible violations against her. He was in a life threatening
condition, without exceptional care he would die!
This Armenian nurse decided to give him the exceptional care he so
desperately needed. Later, as the officer was recovering, a doctor
pointed the officer's attention to the nurse and said "If it weren't
for this woman, you would be dead." The officer, recognizing the nurse
asked, "why didn't you kill me?" She replied "I am a follower of him
who said, "love your enemies."
This wonderful story calls us to inquire as to who this nurse was
following? Who was this person that so influenced her thinking that
she turned away from an opportunity to take revenge? Her extraordinary
care saved the life of the man who had taken so much of life away
from her. He lived because of who the nurse was following, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Through her connection with Jesus the nurse was enabled
to overcome horrific evil and repay it with good.
Jesus suffered many evils. He was betrayed, beaten, mocked and
crucified by people who misunderstood him or wanted him dead. As he
hung on the cross he prayed "Father forgiven them, they do not know
what they are doing." Jesus modelled forgiveness rather than revenge.
This nurse, following his example, chose love over revenge. She cared
rather than killed. That's the power of forgiveness.
In our quest to live happy and peaceful lives, we run into a daunting
challenge - getting along with other people. Although we may never
suffer as this Armenian nurse suffered, we do find ourselves wounded by
those who knowingly or unknowingly perpetrate hurt. Our human tendency,
as the officer in this story expected, is to exact revenge.
We find ourselves waiting for opportunities to strike back, pay back
pain for the pain we have felt. This begins a cycle of revenge, a cycle
which often turns into an unending circle of hurt. Forgiveness breaks
the cycle of revenge; it puts a stop to further hurtful activities. It
enables us to care rather than to strike back.
Forgiveness also has other powers. Not only does it break the cycle
of revenge, it frees us to move forward with our lives. So often
our minds endlessly rehearse what others have done to us. It doesn't
seem to matter how long it's been since the incident happened. If we
choose not to forgive, things that happened 10 years ago are often
as fresh in our minds as if they had happened yesterday. Forgiveness
frees us to look ahead rather than back. We can be released from the
constant "video replays" of past painful events. It's not that we
don't remember these events, but we are not chained by them. We are
free to look ahead, hope again, to see our future with possibilities
rather than pain. It releases the bitterness which can reside in our
hearts and be so destructive to those around us. Too often our family
and friends bear the brunt of our bitter spirit.
I am no way saying that forgiveness is easy. In fact, it is brutally
hard; it is unnatural to choose to forgive the painful errors of
others. It's here that we have some much needed help. We not only
have the example of Jesus, we have his strength that comes to us
through the practice of prayer. Jesus enables his followers to model
his example as they sincerely ask for his assistance. He taught us
to pray "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."
Perhaps you are stuck in the cycle of revenge. Perhaps people in your
life, past or present have hurt you and you have been looking for ways
to get even. Let me encourage you to consider the example of Jesus.
Stop the revenge cycle, release yourself to look ahead rather than
back by letting go of the bitterness. Contemplate the example of
Jesus and ask for his help. Put yourself in the place where you can
enjoy the power of forgiveness.
- Lyndon Wall, Refresh Ministries
Check out grandeprairiechurch.com for more information about local
churches and upcoming events.
http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2013/04/18/the-incredible-power-of-forgiveness
From: A. Papazian
Alberta Daily Herald Tribune, Canada
April 18 2013
By Minister's Message
Thursday, April 18, 2013 1:37:51 MDT PM
Brian Zahnd, in his book Unconditional? tells an amazing story which
took place during the Armenian Genocide of 1915-17. An Armenian home
was invaded by soldiers, the parents killed, the daughters raped and
given to the soldiers. The oldest daughter was kept by the leading
officer for his personal use.
Eventually this girl was able to escape and became a nurse. In a twist
of fate she found herself working in a hospital ward which cared
for the soldiers of the army that had invaded her home. One night,
she recognized the man who had killed her parents and committed
the terrible violations against her. He was in a life threatening
condition, without exceptional care he would die!
This Armenian nurse decided to give him the exceptional care he so
desperately needed. Later, as the officer was recovering, a doctor
pointed the officer's attention to the nurse and said "If it weren't
for this woman, you would be dead." The officer, recognizing the nurse
asked, "why didn't you kill me?" She replied "I am a follower of him
who said, "love your enemies."
This wonderful story calls us to inquire as to who this nurse was
following? Who was this person that so influenced her thinking that
she turned away from an opportunity to take revenge? Her extraordinary
care saved the life of the man who had taken so much of life away
from her. He lived because of who the nurse was following, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Through her connection with Jesus the nurse was enabled
to overcome horrific evil and repay it with good.
Jesus suffered many evils. He was betrayed, beaten, mocked and
crucified by people who misunderstood him or wanted him dead. As he
hung on the cross he prayed "Father forgiven them, they do not know
what they are doing." Jesus modelled forgiveness rather than revenge.
This nurse, following his example, chose love over revenge. She cared
rather than killed. That's the power of forgiveness.
In our quest to live happy and peaceful lives, we run into a daunting
challenge - getting along with other people. Although we may never
suffer as this Armenian nurse suffered, we do find ourselves wounded by
those who knowingly or unknowingly perpetrate hurt. Our human tendency,
as the officer in this story expected, is to exact revenge.
We find ourselves waiting for opportunities to strike back, pay back
pain for the pain we have felt. This begins a cycle of revenge, a cycle
which often turns into an unending circle of hurt. Forgiveness breaks
the cycle of revenge; it puts a stop to further hurtful activities. It
enables us to care rather than to strike back.
Forgiveness also has other powers. Not only does it break the cycle
of revenge, it frees us to move forward with our lives. So often
our minds endlessly rehearse what others have done to us. It doesn't
seem to matter how long it's been since the incident happened. If we
choose not to forgive, things that happened 10 years ago are often
as fresh in our minds as if they had happened yesterday. Forgiveness
frees us to look ahead rather than back. We can be released from the
constant "video replays" of past painful events. It's not that we
don't remember these events, but we are not chained by them. We are
free to look ahead, hope again, to see our future with possibilities
rather than pain. It releases the bitterness which can reside in our
hearts and be so destructive to those around us. Too often our family
and friends bear the brunt of our bitter spirit.
I am no way saying that forgiveness is easy. In fact, it is brutally
hard; it is unnatural to choose to forgive the painful errors of
others. It's here that we have some much needed help. We not only
have the example of Jesus, we have his strength that comes to us
through the practice of prayer. Jesus enables his followers to model
his example as they sincerely ask for his assistance. He taught us
to pray "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."
Perhaps you are stuck in the cycle of revenge. Perhaps people in your
life, past or present have hurt you and you have been looking for ways
to get even. Let me encourage you to consider the example of Jesus.
Stop the revenge cycle, release yourself to look ahead rather than
back by letting go of the bitterness. Contemplate the example of
Jesus and ask for his help. Put yourself in the place where you can
enjoy the power of forgiveness.
- Lyndon Wall, Refresh Ministries
Check out grandeprairiechurch.com for more information about local
churches and upcoming events.
http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2013/04/18/the-incredible-power-of-forgiveness
From: A. Papazian