Forgiveness

[ATeam]

Last night, Diane and I drove sixteen hours through the desert, from Carson City, Nevada to Phoenix, Arizona . The skies were clear and the moon was full. Most of the way, the road was two-lanes; well-painted and paved. Traffic was light. The wind was calm. The towns were hours apart.

Beyond my high beams, the moon bathed the land in more-soothing light. The desert spread wide to meet the stars. As the engine hummed and tires sang, the night sky came down and touched the earth; leaving me between to ponder the nature of things.

My mind grew quiet as the trivia of the day faded away. A poem bubbled up.

Elsewhere on earth, there is news of a man,
now dead with Amish blood on his hands.
There is also news of the Amish clan.
They forgave the man as God commands.

The ribbon of road flowed peacefully by;
A killer of girls and questions why.
More troubling still between me and the sky,
could I forgive such a guy?

Forgiveness occupied my mind most of the night. I thought of people and events in my life where I have forgiven or been forgiven, and where I have not.

Forgiveness.

It's a word, a concept and a deed.

What do we gain if we forgive someone?
What do we lose if we don't?

What do we lose if we forgive someone?
What do we gain if we don't?

 

[Dreamer]

... and I didn't think church started til 10:30am.. LOL.

Well put. Thought provoking indeed.




Dreamer
Forums Administrator


--------------

"If you don't have the time to do something right,
where are you going to find the time to fix it?"

-Stephen King

 

[Streakn1]

That was AWESOME Phil!!!

The Amish people of Lancaster County are close to my heart.Before getting into expediting I drove a tractor/trailer for MCT for many years.I had a dedicated run from Fl. hauling tropical plants from the south FL. growers to nurseries throughout the east including Lancaster Co.I would pass the little one room school house on my way to deliver plants to the Amish farms that had nurseries.I never dreamed that someday such a tragedy would happen there, it was such a safe and innocent little place.

The females of the farms usually operated the nurseries while the males took care of the agriculture and livestock.Over the years friendships grew although our worlds were so different,or were they? I remember my big 18 wheeler parked just outside of the big white-washed barn with a six horse team hitched to a baler and hay wagon next to it.What a sight that was. Oh, and the times my rig was to big to get onto the farm and the ladies would come up to the highway to meet me. One by one they would back their single hitch wagons up to my trailer and we would load the plants into the wagons. Quick as they came, off they would trot back down the lane to the barn, waving as they went.One time as I drove past the milking barn on my way to the nursery up pops all these little heads with eyes wide open.I could tell these young boys really wanted to see what the big rig looked like inside. I asked the elders permission and then a parade of little ones were checking out the inside of my cab. Everyone of them said "thankyou sir" as they went back to work.

I think my most favorite memory is from harvest time. After my deliveries were done for the day I would go to Ginnie's Diner and park for the night. Before going in for diner I would always go back and stack my pallets.Each season there was a young boy and his father harvesting the cornstalks behind Ginnie's.As the boy so skillfully drove the team of horses his father would stack the bales. Each time they passed we would wave at each other.As the boy looked I wondered,was he wishing just once he could drive a big rig like mine. I know as I watched them, I thought, just once I wished I could drive that team of horses.

These are such independent and humble people, and deeply rooted in their beliefs. They ask nothing but to live their lives and co-exist with us in our world.Sadly,the other day our world crashed with theirs in a tragic way.Be they simple in life,they are strong in forgiveness, as they have forgiven the one that so wrongfully took their chidren away.There is a lesson to be learned here!

 

[mrgoodtude]

A news report last night said that approx 75% of the funeral attendees where in fact Amish.
Mike and Cyn

 

[Broompilot]

I thought of the same, my post is over in the policitcal section under Gregs Post. Same thought different author, I am not as well spoken but one should get the point.

Also with the full moon (Harvest) was driving S. on I-75 on the climb from KY heading into Knoxville, the light clouds with the Mtns all around, add in the brightness of the moon and one should keep in mind our creator.

Be Thankfull for what you have and don't have.

 

[kinilu57]

I was having a very bad day before I read this post. My feelings were hurt and I was angery. Thank each one of you for making me realize that my troubles are extremely trivial compared to what some of the world is experiencing. I'm so glad you shared your thoughts. Much appreciated.



Cindy and Brian

 

[dhalltoyo]

Ditto!

Whenever I find myself complaining about my legs being sore, God sends by a person in a wheelchair without any legs.

Whenever I find myself complaining about the long hours and lack of sleep, God sends by a person who has just lost their job.

Whenever I find myself complaining about the time away from my wife and children, God sends by a person that has no family.

Heavenly Father, please forgive this old wicked sinner for being so selfish.

 

[panther_art]

This morning when I first signed on to EO and I read this post I know it was going to be a bright and good day.

It was really good to see a positive post to start the day out with.

Thank You Ateam and thank all that have posted today with such love and kindness.

If all would just understand you are where you are today because your Creator put you there.

All Keep safe and make this a good day.

Panther Art

 

[pelicn]

What a refreshing change a simple thought provoking post can make. Thank you ATeam for the start of this thread, and thank you to the others that have added their thoughts. Sometimes we all get so wrapped up in the negative, it takes something like this to make us thankful