At last I understood: in the final analysis, forgiveness is an act of faith. By forgiving another, I am trusting that God is a better justice-maker than I am. By forgiving, I release my own right to get even and leave all issues of fairness for God to work out. I leave in God's hands the scales that must balance justice and mercy.

forgiveness alone can halt the cycle of blame and pain, breaking the chain of ungrace.

We do not give up on the institution of family because of its imperfections-why give up on the church?

Paul Tillich once defined forgiveness as remembering the past in order that it might be forgotten—a principle that applies to nations as well as individuals.

Though forgiveness is never easy, and may take generations, what else can break the chains that enslave people to their historical past?

Paul Tillich once defined forgiveness as remembering the past in order that it might be forgotten

Only forgiveness frees us from the injustice of others.

When you forgive someone, you slice away the wrong from the person who did it. You disengage that person from his hurtful act.

Forgiveness is not the same as pardon, he advises: you may forgive one who wronged you and still insist on a just punishment for that wrong.

for the resulting chasms of ungrace there is only one remedy: the frail rope-bridge of forgiveness

Breaking the cycle of ungrace means taking the initiative.

Forgiveness has its own extraordinary power which reaches beyond law and beyond justice.