Dispatches from Home – Forgivness is Hard.

Greetings!

I have been dismayed by people who have applauded the murder of Mr. Kirk. Whether you agree or disagree with what he said and stood for, no human deserves to be murdered in cold blood in front of his/her family. I believe in free speech. You wanna yell. “Fire!” in a theater, go right ahead. You will, of course, have to pay the penalty for doing so. For those who have yelled, “Ding Dong, the Bastard is dead!” they, too, have learned that sometimes it’s best to keep your thoughts to yourself. Lest we forget, discretion is the better part of valor. If you fall into the “Ding Dong, the Bastard is dead!” category, shame on you.

Likewise, I’ve been saddened by those looking for a rope and a tree from which to hang Mr. Robinson before a verdict has been reached. He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of his peers. From what’s been reported by the media—which I hope is correct—this troubled young man comes from a conservative family of Republicans. One report stated that his father turned him in after seeing his son’s picture on television. I can only imagine how difficult that must have been, but it was the right and honorable thing to do. Mr. Robinson’s father shared that his son had become more politically minded of late and had expressed his distaste for Mr. Kirk. This young man now faces a profound and irreversible change in his life. He may spend the rest of his life in prison or even face the death penalty. Regardless of his fate, he will have to live with the consequences of his choice. For those seeking swift retribution, shame on you.

For those who, like me, believe in the power of prayer, these two families need all the prayers they can get. Mrs. Kirk has lost her beloved husband and the father of her two precious girls. This vicious murder will haunt her and her family until Father God calls them Home. The Robinson Family has also been thrust into the worldwide spotlight, with all the misery that brings. Mr. Robinson’s mother and father will put their heads down at night and forever ask, “Why did he do this? Where did we fail our son? Or did we?”

Forgiveness is hard. Maybe you can’t forgive Mr. Kirk for the things he said. Maybe you can’t forgive Mr. Robinson for murdering someone you looked up to. However, please remember: For Believers, if we can’t forgive those who trespass against us, how can we expect Father God and Jesus to forgive us when we trespass against them?

In difficult times like these, let’s resist calls for violence and judgment, and instead focus on empathy, forgiveness, and the healing of both families. My hope is that we find compassion for all involved.

Big hug, y’all!