Forgiving: The Only Way Forward

Today a poignant and very moving and thought-provoking speech by Desmond Tutu’s daughter Mpho Tutu van Furth.

“Forgiving can sometimes look like an impossible task. How do you forgive murder, rape, genocide? After the end of apartheid in South Africa, many expected the country to be devastated by a bloodbath. Yet, the new nation chose the path of confession and reconciliation. Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu va Furth says that it’s possible to forgive and still pursue justice. Forgiveness is the only path forward.

Tutu van Furth was in Australia to deliver the 2016 Annual Hawke Lecture Forgiving...The Only Way Forward presented at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, University of South Australia on the 15^th June 2016.”

You’ll find the audio here (approx. 53 mins)

I also want to highlight the very helpful book The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World (pub. 2014) and co-written by Desmond and Mpho Tutu.

“…Each of us has a deep need to forgive and to be forgiven. After much reflection on the process of forgiveness, Tutu has seen that there are four important steps to healing: Admitting the wrong and acknowledging the harm; Telling one's story and witnessing the anguish; Asking for forgiveness and granting forgiveness; and renewing or releasing the relationship. Forgiveness is hard work. Sometimes it even feels like an impossible task. But it is only through walking this fourfold path that Tutu says we can free ourselves of the endless and unyielding cycle of pain and retribution. The Book of Forgiving is both a touchstone and a tool, offering Tutu's wise advice and showing the way to experience forgiveness. Ultimately, forgiving is the only means we have to heal ourselves and our aching world.”