Benedictine Academy was blessed to welcome Detective Steve McDonald, Christoph Arnold and Hashim Garrett last Friday, March 12. They spoke a powerful message of Nonviolent Conflict Resolution through Forgiveness. Detective Steve McDonald was shot and paralyzed in the line of duty 21 years ago. He echoed President Robert Kennedy who once said, "The victims of violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are most important of all, human beings, whom other human beings loved and needed." Steve McDonald shared why he feels "that the only thing worse than a bullet in my spine would have been revenge."
Hashim Garrett, at the age of 15, suffered a spinal cord injury from a bullet shot. He spoke about the importance of education, the cause of conflicts and the need to forgive. Quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., Hashim lives by the belief that "Forgiveness is not a one-time event; it is an attitude that must be lived." Hashim has been a six year speaker for the Harvard Violence Prevention Curriculum and educates young people on "Wisdom and Understanding" in their communities.
Mr. Arnold has written 11 books on suffering, violence and forgiveness. Jesus suffered from cruelty and died on a cross. And violence continues to harm good people in our world today. To help us prepare our hearts during this Lenten Season, Mr. Arnold gifted everyone with a copy of his book, Why Forgive?
We all walked away with a deeper appreciation for our lives and the need to be people of compassion and love.
