Reversing systems breakdown with Christ (a meditation on Charlottesville)

There was a very disabled man in a nursing home who was assaulted by staff. When the disabled man was finally able to move and speak, he returned to the nursing home, invited some of the staff (who didn't recognize him) to a luncheon whereby he introduced himself and told them that he knows everything they did and he forgives them. The staff, in remorse and in tears, asked for his forgiveness which he gave.

A woman who was sexually abused by her uncle returns to their Christmas party where the uncle was and tries to make small talk with him, reaching out and forgiving and loving everybody who was complicit in hurting her as a child.

There is a wife whose husband was taken from her by her own mother-in-law for the simple reason that she wants him nearby. She kept him away from her and their children with no ready means of support and when he tried to return to her, the wife tried to retain some sense of family and offered to forgive the mother-in-law who brushed her away.

A low-housing residence allowed violent and unpredictable drug-addicted disabled residents to mix with the gentler older and debilitated seniors, causing recurrent thefts and assaults on some. This pattern continued until it led to the death of one of the residents and the housing staff were nonchalant and merely told police it was a private issue. The sister of the deceased chose not to sue the facility, and the state is suing only the suspect.

The first and fourth examples differ in that they happen institutionally. The man who could have sued the whole hospital for millions, chose to not to. The state on behalf of the people could have sued the home for the breaches of security.

Many of them could have sued, but they didn't. When will it merit to sue versus not, for sometimes the big instiitutions and countries that are in error, only consider changing for the good if there are economic sanctions. This is well illustrated in health care infections. Hospitals are monitored for them and get censured from receiving Medicare dollars if they get high rates. You better believe they drive the low numbers of these types of adverse events across the country.

What my friends did was to heal at their level by offering forgiveness. It is the start of systems change for them, and maybe also to the people that they offered forgiveness too. But institutional change?

The one person who gave this much light to see the need for forgiveness in themselves and also give it to others will inevitably bring healing and reason to a situation. To multiply persons like this formed in faith and showing order and love will only be possible through a faith relationship with Christ. Naturally, to nurture relationshps with like-minded souls and remake institutions in the image of Christ would be ideal. But that is how one bring about the kingdom of God--one person getting and giving the light of Christ. Pass it on.