A few years ago, I read 'No Future Without Forgiveness' by Desmond Tutu which talks about the process of reconciliation and healing after apartheid in South Africa. As I read it, I became immediately fascinated by this concept of ubuntu which seems to be a pivotal component in South Africa's road to recovery. Here is …
Continue reading Thoughts on Ubuntu: Are We Really All Connected?
I recently wrote about the relationship between the oppressed and the perpetrators, sharing that those who have been oppressed have to be willing to surrender their notions of being a victim in order for true reconciliation and healing to be achieved. But why in the world would people who have experienced such injustice want to do that? …
Continue reading Victimhood: Are You a Card Carrying Member?
A few days ago, I posted a blog post asking for some feedback about some thoughts I had on reconciliation. Christena Cleveland, a fellow blogger and Twin Citan (go Twin Cities!) tweeted this: I agree with Christena in that reconciliation does involve a great amount of risk and vulnerability on the part of those who …
Continue reading The Cost of Reconciliation: Adding Insult to Injury
I am currently reading Exclusion and Embrace by Mirslov Volf and came across this powerful thought about reconciliation: "The work of reconciliation should proceed under the assumption that, though the behavior of a person may be judged as deplorable, even demonic, no one should ever be excluded from the will to embrace, because, at the …
Continue reading A Few Thoughts about Reconciliation. Feedback Please!
Although its been almost 15 years, I still remember the time I lost my hair because of a bad relaxer. It was 1997 and I was 14 and going to this hair dresser down the street from where I lived in Milwaukee. Unlike other hair dressers I had been to in the past, she knew …
When it comes to prayer and faith, there is a difference between being shocked and being amazed at the blessings of God. Being shocked at God reveals our doubt. It illustrates a disconnect between our prayers and ability to believe that whatever we ask for in prayer, God will hear us. And so like the …
Ebony Johanna 