Forgive Always

In a previous Blog I wrote about my latest assignment, on loving neighbor and loving your enemy. I had watched a series of films on the Jewish Holocaust. I then ventured into further reading of the historical events. God had not finished teaching me about love of enemy and forgiveness.

Love conquerors all. It is a power that far surpasses violence, dominance or revenge. A week after reading of Dr Josef Mengele, the Nazi who had conducted horrific experiments on Jewish children, God was to challenge me incredibly. If you read in my last blog I asked God, "How can we forgive such things?". I even condemned the man for his ghastly deeds and sentenced him to hell. I felt pain in my heart for the defenseless children and the mother's tormented anguish at having their little ones torn from their arms at Auschwitz, I was shocked and distressed. Part of me wanted retribution.

Again humanity's capacity for evil confronts us. Relativism, existentialism, rationalism - beware the 'isms', they never give an answer for evil. Most certainly evil exists within us. Their isnt a religion on the planet that does not agree we are broken and have the capacity for evil. Denying evil exists is simply ignorance. Richard Dawkins would argue his Darwinian theory of natural selection, survival of the fittest etc. Ironically that view falls well within the sphere of Nazi socialism. I have since learnt Hitler was also an advocate of Euthanasia. Especially for the mentally retarded or disabled!

Yet, amongst such cruelty God was to guide me, lovingly and patiently to a Saint. A real one. Not simply someone that professes to be a Saint because they believe in Jesus. Rather one whose actions point to that of a Saint. There is a difference. Eva Kor is her name. I didn't know this woman existed until a week after writing my last blog. Thus hopefully you will see God's guidance and teaching unraveling. Teaching me about loving even your enemy and forgiving always.

"Eva Kor is a survivor of both the Holocaust and of the twin experiments conducted by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. She and her twin sister Miriam survived Auschwitz, and then moved to Israel. While Miriam stayed in Israel, Kor met and married Holocaust survivor Michael Kor, before moving to Terra Haute, Indiana with him. There, she created the CANDLES (Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors) Holocaust Museum. " Rin Wilhelmi (read about her here)

She had forgiven her tormentor. She had publicly forgiven him and thus found the true freedom we receive  in forgiving others. I wept, I wept profusely. God was speaking to me yet again. I could hear Him. His words were clear enough. "If she can forgive Dr Mengele and she suffered through it, how much more should you forgive?"

Christ's words have never been truer in the power of Eva Kor's forgiveness. "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do".

God Bless