Apologies and Forgiveness

The big news in Detroit right now is the "Sex, Lies and Text Messaging" scandal of the city's mayor. Basically he denied he had an affair with his Chief of Staff during a lawsuit brought against him by two police officers whom he fired because they tried to investigate his use of the security force to hide his affair. Now they have uncovered records of his text messages to his Chief of Staff which prove that there was an affair going on. He lost the lawsuit, costing the already desperate city of Detroit $9 million dollars. The mayor broke his week of silence last night with an emotional speech with his wife, apologizing for the pain he caused his family and the people of Detroit. Of course, he couldn't specify the details, because doing that would be an admission of guilt which would end him in jail. He insisted that he will change and he is refusing to resign as mayor.

This has made me reflect on what is apologizing and asking for forgiveness. What is an apology and what is needed for forgiveness to happen? Very simply, the only thing that is the right thing to do, is to say "Yes I did it. I resign. I will now pay the consequences." That is when there can be true change. I believe, then, the people wronged can give forgiveness. It so goes against our human nature. It involves humility. It means that there will be pain. It means there might be rejection and ostracism. It means a total change in one's life. It takes great courage to follow this route. And, in the long run, that person will gain back the respect and others will remember them for that courage.

This has been a bit of a lesson for me. Though I have not committed any "big" sins, I am guilty of trying to put the blame for my mistakes on some other reason than my error or make excuses that it wasn't possible to do the right thing. I have been learning to claim responsibility. To without explanation, say "Yes. I did it and I apologize." It is not always easy and yes, I face the consequences. But in the end, I believe I am a stronger person for it. And after I do it a few times, it becomes easier and feels more the right thing to do.

A story of survival in North America

Recently, I had the privilege to travel to the south coast of Texas, drawn by the promised sighting of the tallest and one of the rarest bird in North America. There I met and learned about an amazing story of God's creativity and one of survival. The bird of interest is the WHOOPING CRANE.

In 1941, there were only 21 whooping cranes in the world. As of April 2007, there were about 340 whooping cranes living in the wild mostly due to aggressive conservation efforts. The whooping cranes breed in Alberta in the summers and migrate to the gulf coast of Texas in the winters. They feed mostly on blue crabs which are found in marshes where there is the perfect concentration of fresh water meeting with the salt water of the ocean.

Some cool facts:

- the average whooping crane lives 24 yrs.

- they mate for life and stay together unless they fail to conceive, a divorce may occur!

- they are very territorial in their living areas - parents and the current year's chicks stay together in the same area.

- the young whooping cranes will reside in the area adjacent to their parents when they leave them.

- they never migrate in large flocks - only by families - thought to be their own inborn sense of preservation.

- the scientists don't band them, but record their whooping sounds to identify the birds as each has a different sound.

I don't know why, but I just marvel at God's creation of the whooping crane - its uniqueness compared to other birds. I am impressed by its efforts to survive and despite perhaps needing help from humans, the species have kept on. I am impressed that they stay together for life. And they are beautiful birds!

The young cranes have the cinnamon colored heads. The above family actually consisted of the parents and twins.

Don't we have an awesome creative God?

Faces for Reflection

Here is a poem that I just wrote as I have encountered the US military in the last week.

Faces

The loose wrinkled skin of the World War II vet
Each line betraying the years
The remnants of a handsome chiseled face lurking below
He commands great dignity and respect.

The scraggly big beard of the Vietnam War vet
Greasy looking hair pulled back by a bandanna
Deep creases showing an age older than reality
He has learned to survive.

The smoothly shaven skin of the young soldier
Hair buzzed short and neat
Each feature remarkably clear
He is eager to fight and full of pride.

Each face brings the question:
What is his story hidden behind?
Each face brings the question:
What has been his sacrifice?
Each face brings the question:
Was it worth it - to fight for peace?

Each face, with its story and sacrifice
Demands one to reflect.

- LM, January 2008-