C.S. Lewis wrote:
Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.
If there is a common occurrence in my life, it’s that I believe in people. I am willing to wait for them to come around, even if it takes over a decade. I recognize how hard it is to forgive or be forgiven, that’s why I love the act so dearly. It’s the greatest gift that there is for both the giver and the receiver.
Over the past several weeks, I have sent countless private letters. Some were celebratory, some were full of gratitude, and others were requests for forgiveness. The last category of letters are the ones that are toughest to send.
We live in a time when forgiveness is rare. As a culture, we root against redemption and recovery. Instead, we hope that we will never need any of the three. Well I’ve needed forgiveness, redemption, and recovery so there are few who I’d deny the same comforts. This is letter written to one of those people who altered my life for the worse and then called me to discuss it, twelve years later.
I would consider her a friend, today. And if she needed my help, I’d extend the olive branch.
The next public letter was one of gratitude written to an athlete named Rich Froning. For two years, I served as his sports marketing agent, amateurishly securing deals with companies like Nike, Reebok, Oakley, Advocare, and others. What I learned was that it was a high risk, high reward opportunity in the most literal sense of the phrase.
The timing of our largest deal finished just in time to prevent homelessness for the Smith family after a surprise eviction notice from the city of Columbus. This would be our second eviction in just five years, both instigated by someone who wanted to hurt my family and me. Not one bit of this is exaggeration. This particular time, I had a solution thanks to this gentleman and the opportunity he gave me. In doing so, he shaped how I perceived the importance of second chances.
Thank you for reading,
Web