Forgiveness and grace from a civil rights disturbance, 50 years later

National Public Radio reports on a powerful story. In 1960, a group of non-violent civil rights activists attempted to integrate a public facility in Rock Hill, SC. There were hecklers, and some beatings.

One of the people beaten was US Congressman John Lewis. (Here is his Wikipedia entry, and here is his official Congressional web site.)

One of the men who beat the African-Americans in Rock Hill discovered that Representative Lewis was one of those beaten, and contacted Lewis to apologize. According to the NPR report, they hugged, and were reconciled. Elwin Wilson, aging and not in the best of health, "says he found the Lord and realized he was wrong." Lewis is quoted as saying that their meeting was a "moment of grace."

Whether Wilson and Lewis now agree on politics, I don't know. But that's not important. Repentance, grace, and forgiveness are important.

Thanks for reading.