Joe E. Trull tells of a primitive tribe located deep in the South American jungles. Anthropologists learned the most important role within the tribe was the “keeper” of the flame. Since fire is so precious — and takes such effort to recreate — one member is entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the flame alive.
During the night the flame keeper adds wood to the fire. He keeps the fire alive whenever the tribe moves to another location — carrying it in some vessel in order that the very difficult task of starting a fire in such a primitive culture might not have to be repeated.
I’ve begun to believe that role is the most important in every tribe and every culture – the keepers of the flame of truth — basic integrity.
The keepers of the flame of love — caring for another.
The keepers of the flame of conviction — willing to stand for right and justice.
And we could go on and on, high on the list, the willingness to forgive. In what may be a passive response is an act of great power.
On June 17, 2015, in Charleston, SC a white man, Dylann Roof, murdered nine members of Mother Emmanuel A.M.E. Church. If members of that church, or any other group, had sought to seek revenge it might well have triggered a race war. Instead, they decided to forgive Dylann Roof. The act of forgiveness was so powerful that within two months the confederate flag was removed from the state house grounds in Columbia, SC. An unforgettable message of reconciliation was sent across the world.
The families of the nine people killed and Mother Emmanuel Church practiced a core expression of the Christian faith. In fact, the Apostle Paul said reconciliation is the ministry to which we are all called. After affirming the new life that is ours, he said, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18)
The core dynamic of reconciliation is forgiveness. Is there a situation of which you are aware that your expressing forgiveness would make a difference?