The Book of Forgiving:
The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World
by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a towering figure in the late 20th century. After the collapse of the apartheid system in South Africa, Archbishop Tutu chaired The Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This commission provided opportunities for those wounded by the racist regime to tell their stories, and of equal importance, it provided opportunities for the perpetrators of these evil acts to acknowledge responsibility.
Desmond Tutu drew from this painful but healing process a roadmap for forgiveness: Here is a quote from the introduction to his book:
There are countless studies that enumerate the social, spiritual, psychological and even physiological benefits of forgiveness. The actual process of forgiveness, however has often been left a mystery. It is good and helpful to let go of resentment, but how do we let go of resentment when we have been harmed? It is better not to exact retribution, but how can we forgo retribution when what has been taken from us cannot be restored? And, is it even possible to forgive and still pursue justice? What steps must we follow to achieve forgiveness? How do we heal all the holes in our hearts that come with being the fragile creatures we are?
The Lenten book study will meet via ZOOM on four consecutive Wednesday evenings:
March 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd, beginning at 7:00PM.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82186179073
Meeting ID: 821 8617 9073
One tap mobile
+16699009128,,82186179073#
The St. Thomas library has a few copies of The Book of Forgiving. It is also available from all major book sellers. Amazon has it in paperback, as a Kindle ebook and as an audiobook. You may also be able to download the audiobook from your local library.