Representative John Lewis died this last week.  Widely respected on both sides of the aisle, Lewis was called the “The Conscience of the Congress.”  Lewis was an ordained Baptist minister, who let his faith guide his life.  As a young man this led him to be a courageous leader of the civil rights movement.  He faced almost constant abuse, was beaten several times, and even served on a chain gang at Mississippi’s notorious Parchman Prison for using a whites’ only restroom during a protest.  Nevertheless, he was dedicated to using only nonviolent means.

            Elwin Hope Wilson was a resident of Rock Hill, South Carolina, who became very upset during the early days of the civil rights movement with attempts to overcome the Jim Crow laws, especially those concerned with housing.  He joined the Klu Klux Klan and became a full participant in their violent activities including cross burnings, throwing rocks and bottles at protestors, and even beatings.  One of those he beat was John Lewis; it was at the Rock Hill bus station during one of the freedom rides in 1961.  He was never held accountable for any of his actions, but shortly after the inauguration of President Obama he felt a religious conviction.  He said that he had been bothered for some time about all the bad stuff that he had done.  He said, “I found out there is no way I could be saved and get to heaven and still not like blacks.”

            He was an elderly man in 2009 when he asked his son to take him to Washington so that he could meet with Representative Lewis.  He said, “Mr. Lewis, I was in the KKK, and I was one of the men that beat you at the Rock Hill bus station in 1961.  I am sorry.  Will you accept my apology?”  Lewis accepted the apology and the three men hugged and cried together.  Lewis later said, “It was the power in the way of peace, the way of love.  We must never, ever hate.  The way of love is a better way.”  Lewis and Wilson kept in touch, became friends, and made several public appearances together espousing love and reconciliation.

            I think that both men’s faith played the deciding role in this heartwarming episode.  Jesus gives us a message about forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-22.  He tells Peter that forgiving seven times is not enough.  He must forgive seventy times seven times.  This is not meant to specify 490 times, but rather more times than you would have ever guessed.  Forgiveness is part of God’s unconditional love for us.  In Luke 23:34 we read that even as he is hanging on the cross Jesus says, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”  With God’s help, we too can learn to forgive.

Jim