In some shape or form, all Rwandans ask this question. Some, like Antoine Rutayirire, himself a survivor,
put the question starkly: "if they told you that murderer was to be released into your neighborhood, how would you feel? But what if this time, they weren't just
releasing one, but forty thousand?
As We Forgive, p 16
As We Forgive, written by Catherine Claire Larson, and published by Zondervan, examines vital issues such as forgiveness, justice, reconciliation and shalom through the stories of survivors of the holocaust in Rwanda.
Fifteen years ago, almost to the day, Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane was shot out of the sky by a missile. Tensions in the country were heightened prior to that day, and the murder of President Habyarimana, triggered hell on earth for the Tutsi people for the next 100 days. I remember haunting images on the nightly news of bound victims floating in rivers in Rwanda. Somewhere between 800,000 and one million Tutsis were killed in this small country, which is about the size of Maryland.
Catherine Claire Larson, a senior writer for Prison Fellowship Ministries, traveled to Rwanda and chronicled some amazing stories of reconciliation that are taking place. She was inspired to write this book after seeing an award winning documentary film of the same name produced by Laura Waters Hinson.
The book is skillfully written and brings to life the faith and courage of the holocaust victims, and how they have sought to make peace and forgive their neighbors who committed the atrocities against them and their families.
In addition to narrative, Larson interleaves eight chapters that explore the topics of forgiveness, repentance, restorative justice, shalom, reconciliation and even the physiological effects of forgiveness (and of bitterness).
Larson is a gifted writer and accomplishes an important mission in this book. She gets us to think about the nature of forgiveness, and to consider how the gospel can transform relationships and our world. When asked by ByFaith magazine what she hopes readers take from the book, Catherine Larson had this to say.
For example, I was encouraged to pursue a "simple" ministry of listening as a means of loving people who are hurting. Catherine Larson describes a World Vision worker named John who helped bring healing to many Rwandans simply by listening to their painful stories.
One caution, the book contains difficult stories to read. Though Catherine Larson tones down the graphic description of the genocide somewhat, I have found myself on more than one occasion lying awake in bed and re-living those events in my mind's eye. When evil is unrestrained, it is breathtaking how cruel people can be.
That said, the topic of forgiveness is so central to the gospel, and so much a part of all of our lives, that I strongly encourage you to purchase and read this important book. Followers of Christ are called to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. We need to understand what forgiveness is, what it looks like, and how Christ makes this possible. We need to get this. Reading As We Forgive helps.
Catherine Larson's blog has several organizations that are helping in the relief and reconciliation effort in Rwanda.
One that my family and I will be supporting is The Mustard Seed project. Among other things, this organization runs the Sonrise School, a school that ministers to the orphans of the Rwandan holocaust.
For you coffee drinkers, buy Rwandan coffee and help support the entrepreneurs in that country. It is organic, and more importantly, fair trade. Here is how to buy coffee from Rwanda.
Fifteen years ago, almost to the day, Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane was shot out of the sky by a missile. Tensions in the country were heightened prior to that day, and the murder of President Habyarimana, triggered hell on earth for the Tutsi people for the next 100 days. I remember haunting images on the nightly news of bound victims floating in rivers in Rwanda. Somewhere between 800,000 and one million Tutsis were killed in this small country, which is about the size of Maryland.
Catherine Claire Larson, a senior writer for Prison Fellowship Ministries, traveled to Rwanda and chronicled some amazing stories of reconciliation that are taking place. She was inspired to write this book after seeing an award winning documentary film of the same name produced by Laura Waters Hinson.
The book is skillfully written and brings to life the faith and courage of the holocaust victims, and how they have sought to make peace and forgive their neighbors who committed the atrocities against them and their families.
In addition to narrative, Larson interleaves eight chapters that explore the topics of forgiveness, repentance, restorative justice, shalom, reconciliation and even the physiological effects of forgiveness (and of bitterness).
Larson is a gifted writer and accomplishes an important mission in this book. She gets us to think about the nature of forgiveness, and to consider how the gospel can transform relationships and our world. When asked by ByFaith magazine what she hopes readers take from the book, Catherine Larson had this to say.
If God can meet people in this level of pain and destruction, it gives us hope that He can enter the darkness and sadness of our own lives. God truly walks with us—moving us to ask for and extend forgiveness.
The grudges we hold seem small and petty by comparison to the level of atrocity in Rwanda. It makes us reconsider the things we’re holding onto.
I hope the book challenges people to reconsider what forgiveness is. There’s this popular conception of forgiveness that says “forgiveness is a choice I make to release myself from anger, bitterness, and pain.” But granting forgiveness can be deeply painful. In forgiving, we choose to suffer actively rather than suffering passively. It hurts, but God call us to it—it’s an opportunity to vividly demonstrate the gospel to those around us.
That’s the other aspect of forgiveness I hope people see. That forgiveness isn’t just a private thing between you and God. It’s about you, but it’s also about bringing shalom to the whole earth.
The grudges we hold seem small and petty by comparison to the level of atrocity in Rwanda. It makes us reconsider the things we’re holding onto.
I hope the book challenges people to reconsider what forgiveness is. There’s this popular conception of forgiveness that says “forgiveness is a choice I make to release myself from anger, bitterness, and pain.” But granting forgiveness can be deeply painful. In forgiving, we choose to suffer actively rather than suffering passively. It hurts, but God call us to it—it’s an opportunity to vividly demonstrate the gospel to those around us.
Final Thoughts
As We Forgive has challenged me to think deeper about forgiveness. It has triggered several deep and reflective conversations between myself and others about the nature of true forgiveness. It also contains an excellent description of the difference between revenge, retributive justice and restorative justice. There were also many excellent takeaways from the interlude chapters and the thoughtful discussion questions that were posted at the end of those chapters.For example, I was encouraged to pursue a "simple" ministry of listening as a means of loving people who are hurting. Catherine Larson describes a World Vision worker named John who helped bring healing to many Rwandans simply by listening to their painful stories.
One caution, the book contains difficult stories to read. Though Catherine Larson tones down the graphic description of the genocide somewhat, I have found myself on more than one occasion lying awake in bed and re-living those events in my mind's eye. When evil is unrestrained, it is breathtaking how cruel people can be.
That said, the topic of forgiveness is so central to the gospel, and so much a part of all of our lives, that I strongly encourage you to purchase and read this important book. Followers of Christ are called to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. We need to understand what forgiveness is, what it looks like, and how Christ makes this possible. We need to get this. Reading As We Forgive helps.
Catherine Larson's blog has several organizations that are helping in the relief and reconciliation effort in Rwanda.
One that my family and I will be supporting is The Mustard Seed project. Among other things, this organization runs the Sonrise School, a school that ministers to the orphans of the Rwandan holocaust.
For you coffee drinkers, buy Rwandan coffee and help support the entrepreneurs in that country. It is organic, and more importantly, fair trade. Here is how to buy coffee from Rwanda.
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