Circle of Good: Loving the sinner

Jesus’ Love (DollarPhotoClub)

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Our parents and spiritual mentors taught to hate the sin and love the sinner. This haunting story, compelling me to share it. The author is unknown and the facts cannot be authenticated.

Like a biblical parable, the message touches my heart and causes me to think and perhaps change the way I react to the mistakes of others and the ones I make.

In this African tribe, when someone does something harmful, they take the person to the center of the village where the whole tribe comes and surrounds him.

For two days they will say to the man all the good things he has done. The tribe believes that each human being comes into the world as good. Each one of us only desiring safety, love, peace and happiness. But sometimes, in the pursuit of these things, people make mistakes. The community sees those mistakes as a cry for help.

They unite then to lift him, to reconnect him with his true nature, to remind him who he really is, until he fully remembers the truth of which he has been temporarily disconnected: ‘I am good.’

In the compassion shown to others in their tribal family, these people display the teaching given to us in Colossians 3:12-14:

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.

How can we change our response to the sinners in our families, churches and communities by meditating on the truths in this story? Our response to ourselves when we sin?

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Nancy Ward

Nancy Ward writes about conversion, Christian community, and Catholicism. After earning a journalism degree, she worked for the Diocese of Dallas newspaper and the Archbishop Sheen Center for Evangelization, then began her own editing service. She’s a regular contributor to CatholicMom.com, SpiritualDirection.com, CatholicWritersGuild.com, NewEvangelizers.com and a contributing author to The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion. Now, through her Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies workshops, retreats, book, and DVD, she shares her conversion story at Catholic parishes and conferences, equipping others to share their own stories.

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5 Responses

  1. Diane Roe says:

    This touched me too! The key to this story to me is we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Are we not all God's chosen ones? He chooses us all, we are to respond to Him; to Love, to Beauty, to Truth, to Jesus! Thank you Nancy for sharing.

    • Nancy Ward says:

      Diane, you a beautiful reminder to me of God's image and likeness. You are one who knows how to respond to him in love, beauty and truth. Praise God!

  2. Nancy Ward says:

    Thanks, Leslie. The Colossians value was there, despite the differences in cultures and religious ceremonies.

     


     

  3. Leslie Lynch says:

    Nancy, a Facebook friend recognized this story and says it is about the Babemba Tribe of South Africa and their Circle of  Good. It truly is an uplifting tradition, and embodies the values of Colossians. Thanks for sharing it!

  1. August 29, 2014

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