One of the most horrible traffic accident scenes etched in my memory as a former Indiana sheriff is of a young boy struck and killed riding his bicycle in front of his home. He was following instructions at the time of the accident to remain close to home and ride only so far north and only so far south.
Making the loop in front of his home time after time on the public two-lane county road one mile south of Interstate 70 became monotonous. The road was not heavily traveled and, at the end of one loop, he failed to look back before making his tragic last turn.
The young boy turned his bike in front of an oncoming truck and was killed instantly.
The boy’s small body was covered as we waited for the coroner’s arrival when the father of the child arrived home. It is painful to recall the raw emotion expressed by this very large man. “Where’s the driver?” he repeatedly screams.
The driver, also a large man, is sitting in the front seat of my sheriff’s car. The truck driver sees and hears the father and, disregarding my instructions, he exits my car. The two men physically come together as I run to step and squeeze between them. I feel like a slice of bologna between two pieces of thick hardened bread.
I see the arm of the father come over my shoulder toward the truck driver and I fear the worst until I see an open hand rather than a clenched fist, until I hear the father say, “I forgive you!”
By then, all three of us are crying…
This is the single most powerful human illustration of forgiveness I have ever seen, at least on the surface. The father in his rawest state of pain truly did not blame the driver of the truck. No. He blamed himself.
It was the father who had given his son the instructions that contributed to the son’s death.
There is no one in this world who understands this pain as purely as God the Father who sent his Son into the world to suffer and die in order to earn forgiveness for anyone and everyone who will but believe in Him.
Every Sunday in church, we pray the prayer Jesus taught us to pray. “Forgive us our debts (trespasses) as we forgive our debtors (those who trespass against us).” The truth is sometimes it is easier to forgive someone else than it is for us to forgive ourselves.
The words of Ecclesiastes come to mind. “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” (3:1) The musical group the Byrds in the 1960’s convincingly sing these verses in their hit song “Turn, Turn, Turn.”
My New Year’s prayer for 2013 is that this be a time to forgive, a time when we not only forgive others, but a time when we also forgive ourselves, a time when God steps in between the hurting, the offending, the otherwise unforgiving. Think how many wars could be averted, how many marriages saved, how many conflict ridden neighborhoods or places of employment could be made peaceful if only we could forgive and be forgiven.
When we see the elementary school parent in Connecticut express forgiveness after the unthinkable, unimaginable, unnecessary loss of their child to a deranged gunman, we realize how often the real forgiver is God.
So unclench the fist and open the hand and follow the example of the world’s only perfect man.
Accept Christ for who He is, know Him, believe Him, give and receive forgiveness through Him.
Make 2013 a time to forgive.
Join us this weekend Saturday @ Six or Sunday morning at 8:30 or 11 a.m. The Message is “A Time to Forgive” based on Ecclesiastes 3: 1-14 and Colossians 3: 12-17.
Dennis Andrews Ed.D.
Reverend Andrews is Minister at Community Presbyterian Church of Deerfield Beach (Steeple on the Beach), five blocks south of Hillsboro on AIA. Visit www.communitych.org or Facebook.
