On the warm summer evening of June 17, 2015 a bible study was held at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C.  The scripture offered in this study was Jesus' parable recorded in Mark 4:16 ff:
    
        "Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with
          joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution
          comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among
          thorns, hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the
          desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (NIV)

The news reports that evening told of a lone gunman who had joined the bible study and had sat
for a significant period of time with the pastor and other church members. Before the night ended, eight people were dead and one died later at a local hospital. Among the dead were the senior pastor, and two women who that very day had received licenses to preach the gospel...vibrant, lovely people practicing our God-given right to express faith and religious conviction.

My wife and I had the privilege to visit Emanuel A.M.E. Church recently...again, vibrant, lovely people struggling through the grief process with, may I add, much dignity and grace.

Liz Alston, the church historian, found time in her hectic schedule to meet with us at our request. Her background as a high school American history teacher, school principal in a desegregated school, school board member, and one who is socially and politically connected in Charleston caused us to pay close attention to her perspectives. She noted that, on the day of our meeting, it had been 148 days since the shootings. Many church members who were present that night in June have been unable to return to church due to being traumatized, though they very much desire to do so. In contrast, since the shootings, on most Sundays there have been 2500 in church (building capacity) and just as many or more outside unable to enter the sanctuary.

"Courage," said Liz, "is fear that has said its prayers. It is the strength to go on when there is no strength left." In her opinion,"we are in park, not drive" when it comes to coping with such a tragedy. "I have a controlled anger," she stated, and when the subject of forgiveness was discussed, she honestly declared, "I'm not there yet."

Forgiveness is not excusing, denying, letting someone off the hook, sweeping the offense under the rug, or tolerating the offense. It is not being foolish or being a doormat, and it is not weakness, contrary to Frederick Nietzsche's assertions. The acts that are unforgivable are the acts that need forgiving the most, and the forgiver is the first to benefit from forgiveness. Lewis Smedes stated, "We don't forgive because we are supposed to...we forgive when we are ready to be healed." Forgiveness is best understood as a process that takes as long as it takes, but the proven results are improved spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health.

Some at Emanuel A.M.E. Church made a willful decision to begin the healing process through forgiveness of the hate-filled murderer, who admitted he attempted to initiate a race war through violence. Those who proposed forgiveness undoubtedly did not "feel" like forgiving...but to wait for such a feeling is perhaps to wait forever, all the while sinking deeper into resentment and bitterness. They are to be highly commended for their courage, and the Charleston church for their gracious example to a nation weary of division and discrimination promoted by those who practice evil.

St. Augustine said that evil is an absence of good. Let us not make the mistake of calling evil anything other than what it is. The enemy of our souls must be identified as pure evil. But what we are promised is, wherever there is evil, there is infinitely more faith, hope,and love.