Calvin Coolidge Jr. was the younger son of the two children of Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, and Grace Goodhue, the First Lady. On the afternoon of June 30, 1924, the teenage boy played a game of tennis with his brother John. Because he wore tennis shoes without socks, Calvin developed a blister on his right foot, which eventually progressed into blood poisoning and caused his death on July 7th, 1924, less than three months after his 16th birthday.
The death of the younger son, without a doubt, caused immense devastation to the family, most especially Lady Grace. President Coolidge was greatly saddened to see the life of his wife being sucked out of her by depression. Being a man of few words, he decided to write her little note. So, one day, Lady Grace came to her room to find a box on her bed in which laid a beautiful yellow dress and a note from her husband. The note simply said:
“Honey, it’s time to return to life!”
Understood what was said, Lady Grace put on that beautiful dress and came downstairs to join her husband for lunch.
…
As it so happens, this Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I was rather reluctant in writing this reflection. I am aware that the wounds which were caused by these despicable acts are still so fresh in the hearts of the American people, and the message I am to convey in this reflection may come by as difficult to embrace. But, the message of the Gospel is always challenging, yet, at the same time, life giving to those who are willing to struggle to embrace it. And this week’s Gospel is so very appropriate:
“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive?”
To what extend must we forgive?
A rather difficult question to answer in the context of what we are remembering today!
I could still distinctly recall that fateful day when I came home from school and turned on the news to see the image of that horrible crash into the first tower, then the second crash, and then the shocking image of the collapsing of the World Trade Center. After I came to the States in 2006, my host family took me to see the movie World Trade Center, but we left after about fifteen minutes into it. She couldn’t take it, and neither could I.
What was all the more saddening was the following aftermath of that distressing event – Wars.
Years of ongoing war which sucked into it many, many human lives – those of the terrorists, those of soldiers who bravely carried out their missions, and, alas, those of innocent civilians, most of whom were women and children.
The tears of those who lost their loved ones in the attacks of 9-11 now became one with those who lost their loved ones in the war, in the suicide bombings, and in the raiding of villages and towns.
The event of 9-11 itself was indescribably traumatizing and, perhaps, forever effected the mind and history of the American people. Sadly, what followed it is just as equally distressing.
It proves one thing however; that the answer for violence and offenses cannot be vengeance, for what comes out of it will just be, once more, vengeance and offense.
9-11 should also teach us two very important lessons. They are one of forgiveness and of transforming grief into conviction – conviction to work for peace.
I know it is easy said than done. I might have just offended so many who lost their loved ones – dedicating spouses, caring parents, loving children, devoted friends, etc. If I was in their position, my first thought would probably be vengeance. But, despite it all, once again, I must speak what our Lord Jesus teaches:
“Amen, I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” – that is limitless, over and over again.
So challenging a message! So difficult to comprehend! Seemingly almost impossible to carry out!
On Monday morning, October 2, 2006, a gunman entered a one-room Amish school in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. In front of twenty-five horrified pupils, thirty-two-year-old Charles Roberts ordered the boys and the teacher to leave. After tying the legs of the ten remaining girls, Roberts prepared to shoot them execution with an automatic rifle and four hundred rounds of ammunition that he brought for the task. The oldest hostage, a thirteen-year-old, begged Roberts to “shoot me first and let the little ones go.” Refusing her offer, he opened fire on all of them, killing five and leaving the others critically wounded. He then shot himself as police stormed the building. His motivation? “I’m angry at God for taking my little daughter,” he told the children before the massacre.
What did the parents of these Amish children do?
Shockingly, they forgave the murderer. Not only did they forgive him, they attended his funeral and burial, and later, they collected a fund for his wife and the three children Charles Roberts left behind.
The outside world was incredulous that such forgiveness could be offered so quickly for such a heinous crime. Of the hundreds of media queries that the authors received about the shooting, questions about forgiveness rose to the top. Forgiveness, in fact, eclipsed the tragic story, trumping the violence and arresting the world’s attention.
Within a week of the murders, Amish forgiveness was a central theme in more than 2,400 news stories around the world. The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, NBC Nightly News, CBS Morning News, Larry King Live, Fox News, Oprah, and dozens of other media outlets heralded the forgiving Amish. From the Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates) to Australian television, international media were opining on Amish forgiveness. Three weeks after the shooting, “Amish forgiveness” had appeared in 2,900 news stories worldwide and on 534,000 web sites.
I guess we have much to learn from our Amish brothers and sisters. They proved to us that forgiveness for despicable acts is possible. They proved to us that transformation of grief and anger to reconciliation and love can take place. They proved to us that peace is achievable.
It’s the tenth anniversary of the attack on September 11. We remember and commend the souls of those who were killed during this tragic event and those who were killed in the aftermath.
But, just as President Coolidge’s reminder to his wife, we need to know that, “It’s time to return to life.” It’s time to work and strive tirelessly for peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation, so that our children of future ages will never have to face such violence, such pain, and such sorrow again.
No comments:
Post a Comment