The Pain of Forgiveness

Just read this story about Lisa Gibson, a woman whose brother was killed in the Lockerbie airplane bombing 20 years ago. This week while Gadhafi was in New York (rambling on about nonsense mind you), Gibson requested a meeting with him to express her forgiveness towards him for her brother's death.

Here's a snippet:

"I welcomed him to America," Gibson told CNN.

The 39-year-old Colorado Springs lawyer said she and another relative of a Lockerbie victim went to see the controversial figure in New York on Wednesday, the same day he delivered a rambling speech to the U.N. General Assembly.

Calling herself an "ambassador of reconciliation," she views the encounter as the latest step in a journey to build bridges between Libyans and Americans -- a mission energized by her strong Christian faith.

"I wanted him to know there were some people out there who've lost loved ones who have a different vision and different heart," she said. "He warmly received us."

The article goes on to tell us that in no way does Gibson say what was done is okay, but that reconciliation is still necessary.

My guess is if you're like me there is a part of you that cringes at this. Gadhafi doesn't deserve forgiveness; he's a cruel dictator and thug. Yet, the reality is if anyone waited until someone "deserved" forgiveness, well, forgiveness wouldn't exist.

In order for real forgiveness to happen, the wrongs done must be absorbed by someone. Just as Jesus absorbs our wrongs on the cross (even while we were still sinners like Gadhafi) so we are to respond like Gibson, with forgiveness towards our enemies.