An even wider inclusivity

A boy at the back followed by saying that there was so much anger and hatred in the world that Ginn was setting an example for society by forgiving. I pointed out that Ginn actually forgave because she is a Christian and was following Jesus' example on the cross. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Then the students were asked whether you need to be a Christian, Muslim or a believer in God to forgive. The teacher interjected, "No, I am an atheist but value greatly things like forgiveness and try to apply them." A boy of Asian appearance sitting at the side of the room raised his hand and said, "It comes from within." Indeed, it does. It is important to remember that people from all sorts of religions and beliefs value such things as forgiveness and love. No group has a monopoly on grace!

It was clear from our discussions that the inner struggle with these issues is something we all experience. It was also observed that although Ginn did forgive Letlapa, that was nine years after the death of Lyndi. Ginn had told him that had she met him sooner after that tragedy she could have killed him with her bare hands. She was a Christian at that time too. And there are many others now, including Christians, who still don’t forgive Letlapa. We explored this observation, also in other varied settings.

Seeing the impact this made on the students gave me conviction to share this story more widely. Linking up with film director Imad Karam led to the production of the award-winning film: Beyond Forgiving

Imad, the film director just referred to, is also the executive director of IofC International. He is a Palestinian Muslim, born and brought up in Gaza. He says that a primary problem in his part of the world is that Palestinians and Israelis are both trapped in their own narratives. I’m sure that this entrapment is true for so many situations, whether with international strife, religious affiliations, family disputes, or even football team allegiances which sometimes turn to crowd violence. As a way forward, Imad highlights the value of really living into each other’s lives/narratives – of ‘walking a mile in the moccasins of the other’, as the saying goes. But further than that is the importance of bringing our own contributions to seeking a shared vision which all can buy into.