Forgiveness

For my Learning Topic delivery at 10/10/10 YMAD meeting:

A woman killed in the Virginia Tech shooting wrote about forgiveness in her final journal entry before her passing, this was a video made about it. A lot dramatic, but what's not dramatic about any of that? Hope it moves you a little.



When Reboyfriend passed away, a very close friend I've had since 7th grade drove up for the funeral. Her sweet husband had only met me once, and never met Reboyfriend. He's a very spiritual person, and I respect it. He came home to her shortly after Rbf died, before the funeral, and told her that every time he thought of Rbf, me, and this tragedy, he kept feeling the strongest impressions returning to him regarding the importance of forgiveness. He was reluctant to share, but felt such a sense of the imperative that it be passed to me, that he told her, and she told me.

There was not much I could think of that I needed to forgive Rbf for. I resent how much time I lost with him and a lot of that was his fault. He also made mistakes just like any human being. But I believe that this wasn't about me needing to forgive him for anything in particular. I believe it was him needing to pass that lesson along to me.

When I had a chance to choose what topic I'd be cramming down the youths throats all year for YMAD before dragging them to a 3rd world country, I saw "Forgiveness" on the page. All I could think about was my friend's amazing husband and the humility he seemed to feel in passing this info on to her for me. I decided it would be my topic for the year, and here I am.

I feel abandoned by Rbf often. I feel frustrated with him for taking too long to do everything. I feel robbed by him.

I feel left behind.

But I also feel inspired by him every day and this is one virtue I am glad I get to practice and learn more about in the time I spend alive.

Wish me luck delivering my training presentation tonight. xo/km