How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy
The story of the Amish West Nickel Mines School shooting on October 2, 2006. A man know to this community held hostage and shot 8 of the 10 girls before committing suicide. Five of those girls died. In the light of this horrific tragedy the actions of the Amish community surprised the world. One word–forgiveness. Their response was starling to the media and the public. Within two days ‘forgiveness’ became the media’s primary theme. “It’s just standard Christian forgiveness; it’s what everybody should be doing,” commented one of the community members.
Compassion was returned to this community by the officers that accompanied the caskets to their cemetery–they all rode horses. Part 2 of the book explores the history, the spirituality and the culture of the people who not only extended forgiveness and compassion to the family of the shooter but also money. The reader will learn much of Amish culture and how they ‘..placed tragedy in God’s hands without demanding divine explanation for injustice.’ Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Merry Van Deusen
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