The title is a take from the book by Jonathan Christoph Arnod Why Forgive? It contains incredible stories of forgiveness and redemption from ordinary people, whose lives were forever changed but many managed to go on living, in spite of the pain and suffering caused by senseless acts of violence and terror. Why Forgive? Jonathan asks, Why Not?

I want to invite you on a journey with some people who embody the message of reconciliation. They chose not to retaliate. The first one was a cop in NYPD and was shot by a 15 year old kid in Central Park, the other was molested as 7 year old child, the third lost three children; one son to suicide and the other one was murdered by an 18 year old. The last one was one of the Newtown parents who lost his 6 year old daughter. They all chose to see beauty, not hate, they chose light, not darkness. It was a painful but they came on the other side. Why Forgive? Why Not!

On the afternoon of July 12, 1986, a 15 year old black kid walked into Central Park with his friends and a few minutes later a white police officer walked over to them and Shavod Jones pointed his gun and shot Steven McDonald point blank. Steve was paralyzed from neck down. He spent eighteen months at Harlem Hospital. During a press conference at the hospital, Patti, his wife, announced that Steven had forgiven Shavod. Everyone was shocked: Whey would he do such a thing? His answer was very simple, but very profound, "I needed healing -badly- and the way forward was love. And I learned that one of the most beautiful expressions of love is forgiving."

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