Forgiveness story:

Corrie Tenboom, in her account of her life in Ravensbrook, a German concentration camp for women during WWII, told the story of coming around the corner one day and seeing one of their female guards savagely beating a fellow prisoner. She and her sister, Bonnie, stopped, appalled at what they were seeing. “That poor worm,” said Corrie. “Yes,” replied her sister, “We will have to pray for her forgiveness.” It was then that Corrie realized that while she had been sympathizing for the poor beaten woman, her sister saw the greater tragedy -- the guard who was able to treat a fellow human being in this way.

Years later, long after the war was over, Corrie’s conviction of the truth of her sisters insight was challenged. By this time she was a popular speaker. After one of her presentations a German man pulled her aside on the steps of a church. He had been one of the guards at the camp. He told her how much her words and story had come to mean to him. He put out his hand to shake hers. Corrie felt an unknown horror rising up in her, a revulsion which she did not know she still harbored. She did not want to shake the man’s hand, but she realized that Christ had forgiven him as well as her. On the steps of that church she shook his hand and forgave him too.

Forgiveness requires truth. Forgiveness cannot be possible in the presence of deception and cover up. Forgiveness is not an easy thing, but, empowered by Christ, is it possible. Forgiveness is possible because the energy of forgiveness flows from Christ. From Christ’s arms of love, forgiveness is felt, claimed and “played forward.” From the outstretched arms of Christ forgiveness heals the wounded heart.