Exemplary forgiveness

We Christians talk about forgiving people all the time. In my experience, we all like it in the abstract. Most of us think it's a good idea for other people to practice. But when the rubber meets the road, it is a challenge for just about everyone. For us to forgive those who have wronged us is hard. The greater the harm, the more challenging (and costly) it is for us to forgive.

So sometimes it's inspiring to hear the example of others. In this case, consider Holy Trinity Church in Juneau, Alaska. Their perfectly beautiful church was destroyed by arson. And now they've forgiven the arsonist.

Telling the arsonist who started a fire that destroyed historic Church of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Juneau that "none of us wants to be known by the worse thing we've ever done, and we do not want that for you," the Rev'd George Silides told Robert Huber that the parish forgives him.

"This gift from our congregation to you is not automatic or cheap, it costs many people a very great deal to make this effort," Silides said during Huber's sentencing hearing January 18.

"But even those who do not feel this forgiveness want you to have it, for their sake and for yours. They want to move on, to let go, to be reconciled, to heal, even if that is not yet where they are today. Our church members want to keep the promises they have made to God. They want to make flesh and blood the prayer they offer every week; ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.' And they do this so that day will be nearer. You can't make it O.K. But we don't want to make it worse."

Read the whole story on ENS. Here's the parish website.