wfn.org | First Person: When we are reconciled, then we are free

[Beth Hawn <BethAH@mbm.org>]

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August 9, 2000
Mennonite Board of Missions
Beth Hawn
Communications Coordinator
PO Box 370
Elkhart, IN 46515-0370
(219) 294-7523 phone
(219) 294-8669 fax
http://www.MBM.org

First Person: When we are reconciled, then we are free

ELKHART, Ind. (MBM) - Time and again, we have been told that 
reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel.  Not quite.  It is not at the 
heart of the gospel - it is the gospel.  The radical forgiveness of an
elderly 
South African woman, who had suffered terrible losses at the hands of a 
brutal murderer, revealed this truth to me years ago. 

She stood in an emotionally charged courtroom, listening to a group of white

police officers acknowledge the atrocities they had perpetrated in the name 
of apartheid.  Officer van de Broek acknowledged his personal responsibility

in the death of her son.  Along with others, van de Broek shot her
18-year-old 
son at point-blank range.  The group partied while they burned his body, 
turning it over and over on the fire until it was completely reduced to
ashes.  
Eight years later, van de Broek and others arrived to collect her husband.  
A few years later, shortly after midnight, van de Broek again appeared and 
took the woman to a place beside a river.  On a woodpile her husband lay 
bound.  They forced her to watch as they poured gasoline over his body and 
ignited the flames that consumed his body.  The last words she heard him 
say were, "Forgive them."

Now, van de Broek stood before her awaiting judgment.  Vengeance seemed 
inevitable.  The Truth and Reconciliation Commission officers asked her what

she wanted.   

"I want three things," she said calmly.  "I want Mr. van de Broek to take me
to 
the place where they burned my husband's body.  I would like to gather up
the 
dust and give him a decent burial.  Second, Mr. van de Broek took all my
family 
away from me and I still have a lot of love to give.  Twice a month, I would
like 
for him to come to the ghetto and spend a day with me so I can be a mother
to 
him.  Third, I would like Mr. van de Broek to know that he is forgiven by
God, 
and that I forgive him, too.  And, I would like someone to come and lead me
by 
the hand to where Mr. van de Broek is so that I can embrace him and he can 
know my forgiveness is real."

As they led the elderly woman across the silent courtroom, van de Broek 
fainted, overwhelmed.  In the courtroom someone began singing "Amazing 
Grace."  Gradually, others joined in until, finally, everyone there was
singing 
the familiar hymn. 

I believe this woman understood that to be reconciled with God, to be 
reconciled with our neighbors and enemies, is to be free indeed.  May we 
all strive to be so free.

* * *

Stanley W. Green

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