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April Journal Entry by Debra Classen
Our answer...
How do we answer life's struggles, the betrayals, rejection,untruths, unkindness of others? Our very human inclination is to giveback more of the same to the same person. But there is a different answer throughout the Gospels, its radical culmination in Christ'sanswer on the crucifix, "Forgive them Father they know not what they do."The answer I have found is written in the beatitudes, in Matthew25. It is so small, as to appear imperceptible at times. It happens when an interaction is based in love. It can be as simple as a young man holding a door for and elderly person, letting someone go ahead in a line, being patient, stopping in a busy day and listening to someone,ethical business transactions, a word of encouragement, an apology.
Kevin is an interesting man. I met him in November of 2008 and an amazing thing happened the first time I opened the door to his printing shop. Actually the first time I had my hand on the door was a sign of the wonderful things to come. All for the lowest price in town I have received great printing, philosophical insights on life, encouragement,support of the ministry , and even some prayers for good measure. Kevin is one of the people that has shown me that we can answer life's disappointments with kindness.
It began in November of 2008. One day, it was on a Saturday morning, I spoke aloud to God, asking for mercy and forgiveness for two men I do not know and will never meet. I asked for mercy for two men who radically altered my life when they took the life of someone I loved dearly I am not sure why it happened that morning--it had happened long ago. Maybe I had finally recognized all the mercy and love I had beengranted and some of it finally spilled over.I don't know that any thing in particular prompted this plea on a cold November morning.
Two hours later I went to my post office box to check on the ministry mail and found a letter from the chaplain at Sing Sing Prison.It seemed odd, I had never communicated to them and only heard of the prison on "Law and Order".I opened the letter. The prison chaplain had written me, asking if the ministry would be willing to donate cards with art on them for the prisoners to send home to their families.
I immediately knew this had to be God's idea because I had never considered being involved in a prisonministry . Three phone calls and several days later I talked with Padre Ron. He had been in Rwanda during the genocide and told me that "violence always begets violence unless met with God's forgiving love." I asked how many cards he needed. "Five hundred would be great".
I immediately knew this had to be God's idea because I had never considered being involved in a prison
I began the art work immediately--on fire for this unlikely ministerial work. I called a friend and told him about the project and asked if he knew a printer--he recommended Kevin. I also asked the friend if he would be interested in underwriting the project--he didn't know. I always hated asking for money, but it had to be done. I had nothing in the ministry account or much in my personal account, but went ahead with the project trusting that something would come through if God was going to have me doing something so unlikely.
I called Kevin and immediately talked with a friendly and kind man who was willing to help me out. He understood about artists hesaid--his wife was an artist. Adriana-my friend and the graphic designer took my art and did something beautiful with it and we sent the graphics to Kevin within the week.
I went to pick up the card without knowing how I was going to pay for them and found my way to Midwest Graphics in Independence, Ohio. I parked the car, walked up to the building, put my hand on the door and my cell phone rang. I let thedoor go and stood on the sidewalk to answer the call. It was the friend I had asked to help fund the project--he said he would donate $500. I thanked him and walked in to meet Kevin. He handed me boxes of beautiful cards and a bill for.......$500!
I went to pick up the card without knowing how I was going to pay for them and found my way to Midwest Graphics in Independence, Ohio. I parked the car, walked up to the building, put my hand on the door and my cell phone rang. I let thedoor go and stood on the sidewalk to answer the call. It was the friend I had asked to help fund the project--he said he would donate $500. I thanked him and walked in to meet Kevin. He handed me boxes of beautiful cards and a bill for.......$500!
Since then--Kevin always seems to have an Irish story for me. He knows everyone and I think he prays for everyone too. As I was struggling with an angry family member who I seemed to just be getting angrier with myself he told me a winding story--that was really about forgiveness. A man had once ripped his small printing company off for $60,000! He said he was really angry but eventually realized that he needed to forgive the man more than he needed the $60,000!
He said,"Staying angry is like picking up a chair and carrying it around it everyday. It you saw someone carrying a chair everywhere, everyday, you might begin to find it peculiar. We might have an initial reason to be angry, but it doesn't make sense to keep carrying it around everywhere."
He said,"Staying angry is like picking up a chair and carrying it around it everyday. It you saw someone carrying a chair everywhere, everyday, you might begin to find it peculiar. We might have an initial reason to be angry, but it doesn't make sense to keep carrying it around everywhere."
So that's the way it all works--beautiful things happen when we forgive, because it enables us to reach out and love again. It is the hardest thing we do, but our faith talks about redemption. And now its Easter--Easter! The worst day in the history of mankind was the horrific crucifixion of the Son of God. Christ was scourged, mocked, beaten, humiliated, tortured and crucified and He forgave us as He was dying!
Only three days later-God gives us the best day in the history of mankind-the Resurrection. The awesome power of forgiveness and love. The Resurrection was God's answer to mankind's violence. Our answer to life's betrayals, rejection, disappointments, and pain can be forgiveness and love too.
This small little ministry and my meager efforts to forgive continue because I see people answering life's sometimes unbearable pain, with love and forgiveness. People like Adriana give, forgive, and keep doing something beautiful for God. It happens because people like Kevin give, forgive, and tell great Irish stories about forgiveness, stories I can hear and relate to.
People like Padre Ron give and forgive to prisoners. And there are people like you, living out your faith in whatever ways you can and somebody is hearing your answer and believing that all is possible through God, that God can"forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
People like Padre Ron give and forgive to prisoners. And there are people like you, living out your faith in whatever ways you can and somebody is hearing your answer and believing that all is possible through God, that God can"forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
"Now let's do something beautiful for God."
Posted by Debra Classen at 4/12/2010 12:00 AM 
Categories: Journal
Tags: let go God provides forgiveness let God patience
Categories: Journal
Tags: let go God provides forgiveness let God patience
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