Have you ever been let down by people? To have a promise broken by a friend? To be disappointed by leaders? To be jaded by once "heroes"?
You always think that people should know better; or that as mature adults they should discern the better way. However, life often do not work out that way. The evidence at large points to people being messy, ill-informed and stubborn. Sometimes they are unaware or ignorant of the hurt, pain and confusion they are causing; other times they simply do not care, insisting on their way no matter what it may cause.
It is times like this when I'm disappointed and quick to judge and react that I'm reminded of a story about Corrie Ten Bloom.
A story was told of Corrie and her sister when they were locked in a Nazi prison camp during world war II. A prison guard was mercilessly beating on his sister. Corrie seethed with rage at the ill-treatment to her sister and in her heart she hated the guard. She wished him evil and wanted to seek revenge for the hurt and pain caused to her sister and herself.
Then a voice spoke in her heart; it was as God spoke through the fog of anger and bitterness. The still small voice said, "Corrie, there is a Nazi in you as well." It broke Corrie and convinced her that she too was capable of these atrocities; she too could have been a Nazi. She chose to show grace and forgive her captor.
We too could also choose to show grace to the people who let us down, for we too would also have let others down. We are all sinners. Showing grace and forgiveness would bring healing and free the space for reconciliation. For we all have the propensity to harbour a "Nazi" within; it is the unmerited grace of Jesus that frees us; brings healing; and reconciliation.
Ollie
February 2007
You always think that people should know better; or that as mature adults they should discern the better way. However, life often do not work out that way. The evidence at large points to people being messy, ill-informed and stubborn. Sometimes they are unaware or ignorant of the hurt, pain and confusion they are causing; other times they simply do not care, insisting on their way no matter what it may cause.
It is times like this when I'm disappointed and quick to judge and react that I'm reminded of a story about Corrie Ten Bloom.
A story was told of Corrie and her sister when they were locked in a Nazi prison camp during world war II. A prison guard was mercilessly beating on his sister. Corrie seethed with rage at the ill-treatment to her sister and in her heart she hated the guard. She wished him evil and wanted to seek revenge for the hurt and pain caused to her sister and herself.
Then a voice spoke in her heart; it was as God spoke through the fog of anger and bitterness. The still small voice said, "Corrie, there is a Nazi in you as well." It broke Corrie and convinced her that she too was capable of these atrocities; she too could have been a Nazi. She chose to show grace and forgive her captor.
We too could also choose to show grace to the people who let us down, for we too would also have let others down. We are all sinners. Showing grace and forgiveness would bring healing and free the space for reconciliation. For we all have the propensity to harbour a "Nazi" within; it is the unmerited grace of Jesus that frees us; brings healing; and reconciliation.
Ollie
February 2007
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