A COURAGEOUS DECISION

With this week’s death of former President Gerald R. Ford, many articles have been written about his life and presidency. One comment I read about his presidency caught my attention. It involved his courageous decision to pardon President Richard Nixon for his complicity in the Watergate scandal.

In 2001, Senator Edward Kennedy awarded Ford a “Profile in Courage” award. (It is awarded to leaders who make decisions considered unpopular at the time, but later deemed to be right.) Although Kennedy himself was opposed to pardoning Nixon at the time, he later made these comments about Ford: “Unlike many of us at the time, President Ford recognized that the nation had to move forward, and could not do so if there was a continuing effort to prosecute former President Nixon…So President Ford made a courageous decision.”

Ford’s decision to pardon Nixon was courageous because it was not popular, even though it has since been determined to have been the right thing to do. He saw the need to forgive so the country could move on. Forgiveness is a decision that takes courage to practice. It is a hard decision to make and one that is seen as unnatural by many. Maybe this is why it is seen as courageous when one decides to forgive.

But, hasn’t God done the same for us? Even though the Jews crucified God’s sinless Son, He courageously decided to extend to them the opportunity to make it right. He gave them and all sinners the same opportunity with these words: “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) Isaiah said something similar in his day. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)

Jesus asks His disciples to be as merciful to others as God is to us. “And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.” (Luke 6:37) Pardoning offences is often difficult to do. It’s a courageous decision. But, it is necessary if you hope to move on!

             Ronaldo Ricardo Guzmán