Forgiveness is a Powerful Response with Mercy

At the center of my Christmas wreath is placed a sweetgrass basket, a souvenir from a journey to Charleston, South Carolina.  It seems a good fit for my neighborhood, Charleston Bay, a series of row townhomes with pastel colors.  2015’s most moving news story was that of the senseless murder of Christians in that city.  Families who looked danger, oppression & degradation directly in the eye responded with mercy.  Their words of forgiveness for the killer saved a beautiful city from violence, fire, and crime.  These actions were a living epistle of the healing power of forgiveness.  This holiday is the birthday of Jesus Christ who taught about mercy.  My wreath is in honor of those in Charleston who taught a watching world of the great power of Christ’s message of forgiving.  As the traditional basket is at the center of my wreath, a response of mercy was at the center of their faith.  May their shining example be a part of our celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Discussions on Politics, Faith, and Race

In 2008, at Atlanta's Carter Center, author Jim Wallis and President Jimmy Carter led a panel discussion.  Seated on the right side of the front row is Rosalyn Carter.  The bald man with glasses to her left is Knox Porter.  This was a memorable evening, both in content and being close to people of conviction.

Sojourners: Continuing the Conversation on Race

In 2015, Jim Wallis returned to speak at a program hosted by The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.  The foundation's president, Alicia Philipp, wrote a brief article on the event.  I am both honored and humbled that Ms. Philipp quoted me in an essay which appears in Sojourners Magazine.