NULL
Illustration
Object:
In 2006, in the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, Charles Carl Roberts IV entered a small, one-room Amish schoolhouse and shot ten girls, ranging in age from six to thirteen, killing five of them, before turning the gun on himself. While there were many school shootings before and since (this shooting was the third in the United States in less than a week), what made this tragedy stand out was the reaction of those in the Amish community. While no one would have blamed them for harboring anger, even rage, at the gunman for this senseless act of violence, the community chose instead to forgive the gunman. They attended his funeral and even set up a fund for Roberts' family. This reaction even drew the attention of the national media, astonished that any group of people could react to a situation like this with forgiveness.
While the Amish community's forgiveness may have been unusual, it points back to the nature of the God who created all of us, as described by Joel: "Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (v. 13). This attribute of God is especially seen in this time of Lent, a period of repentance and return.
While the Amish community's forgiveness may have been unusual, it points back to the nature of the God who created all of us, as described by Joel: "Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (v. 13). This attribute of God is especially seen in this time of Lent, a period of repentance and return.
