Forgiveness, Squared

The Pastor’s Page
Forgiveness is a mighty thing, a mighty and powerful thing.
There was a story this week about a man named Dean Cage who was accused of raping 15 year old Loretta Zilinger 16 years ago.
She said her attacker was a tall black man. She had kept her eyes open during her rape and had touched her attacker’s face, trying to make sure she remembered all of his features.
A week later, Chicago police took her to meat packing plant where a tall black man, Dean Cage, was employed. They showed him to her and she said he was the one who raped her.
From the moment he was arrested, he said they had gotten the wrong man, but he was convicted and sent to prison.
He was freed, exonerated by DNA evidence in 2008.
He said he hated Zilinger, and wanted her to suffer. He had been wrongfully jailed; his life had been ruined, and though he was out of prison, it was hard for him to find work and to start his life over.
She should suffer, and suffer bad, he said.
Then, Loretta appeared on the Dr. Phil show. She was angry when she heard Cage had been released and exonerated. She was afraid and was afraid for her family, but she was also on a mission to talk to rape victims and help them recover.
When she appeared on Dr. Phil’s show, he brought it up that her accused attacker had been released. She was visibly angry …but Dr. Phil explained DNA evidence to her. Her husband, a police officer, also talked with her about it. Until this time, the couple had not really talked about her experience, nor had they talked about her feelings about DNA testing. He said to her that DNA testing was very reliable. A saliva sample left on her body by her assailant had been tested and the saliva did not belong to Cage.
Now she realized she had made a mistake. She felt guilty. Dr. Phil offered to bring her accused assailant to the show so she could meet him and apologize.
She agreed.
What is remarkable is that Cage agreed to come and meet her. She had been raped, sure, but he had been falsely accused and had spent 16 years in jail. He had not been allowed to see his mother when she fell ill. He had had to cancel his wedding. And now, out of jail, he was having trouble finding gainful employment.
It was her fault. Hers and the system which has too often been willing to throw a black man in prison.
But he agreed to see her on the show. He did. She apologized. He accepted. They hugged. He smiled. And he said that it was right to forgive her.
Could you have done that? Have you forgiven someone who really did you wrong?
Like I said, forgiveness is a powerful thing, a mighty and powerful thing.
Have a good week.

Pastor Smith