Article September 7, 1987 Issue

Beyond turning the other cheek

Forgiving someone who has wronged us is an important step. But we can go even further and demonstrate the Love that restores right relationships.

Carolyn Hill

It was one of those bright and beautiful mornings. A feeling of well-being filled the house—until the telephone rang. An angry voice spilled out a scathing rebuke for a letter I'd written. I felt the caller had completely misunderstood my letter. But she hung up (with great force!) before there was an opportunity to straighten out the misinterpretation. For a few minutes I couldn't seem to think what to do.

Then I asked myself, What did the Master, Christ Jesus, teach us about handling such experiences? Two things came to thought. "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."^{ Matt. 5:38, 39.} At another time when the impetuous Peter cut off the right ear of the high priest's servant, Jesus said, "Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" The account of this incident as recorded in Luke states that Jesus proceeded to touch the servant's ear and heal him.^{ John 18:11 ; see also Luke 22:51.}

The demand for forgiveness was clear enough to me, but there was a further message from Jesus' example: healing follows forgiveness. To obey the spirit of Jesus' command, I needed more than tolerance. I needed to respond to the healing touch of Christ, Truth. Healing could be the only result of the action of Truth. Just as Jesus was always conscious of his healing mission, so must we be conscious of ours—to follow in his footsteps as closely as we can.

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