Forgiveness

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."
Lewis B. Smedes

I have been thinking a lot about both the Oliver and Collins families after the death of Khristian Oliver.  Collins' son Joe Collins Jr. is quoted on KRTE.com as saying Oliver's final statement was "more self-healing for him than for us," Joe Collins Jr. Said shortly after the execution. "He didn't admit to much. He wanted us to feel better and have some closure. But it's kinda hard."  He goes on.  "There wasn't nothing difficult. I looked at him. I didn't see any real remorse in his eyes. It was very easy to stand there," said Collins Jr.


This is a man who has held onto a lot of anger and hurt for eleven years.  Do you think his father would have wanted him to live his life this way?  I hope not.  What he failed to realize is that Khristian's death was not going to erase that pain he was feeling.  Watching a man die in the hopes that it will dissolve years of sorrow is hoping for, well--a miracle.  Khristian or any other man who is being executed is scared, not to mention strapped to a gurney with a microphone lowered from the ceiling to his mouth.  It's hard to look remorseful under such circumstances.  Perhaps Mr. Collins should have spoken with Khristian while he was still alive--given him the chance to express his remorse.  There is no finding it in a brief statement at  such a stressful moment for all involved.


I don't mean to sound disrespectful of the Collins family.  I can't even imagine that hurt that they have experienced.  I hope that they can finally find peace.


As far as Khristian's family, they too are grieving for their son.  It is my sincere hope that they have support and kindness through their grieving process.  Most of the articles about their son have postings by anonymous people who spew vengeful, ugly words.  This makes me sad.  People hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to express their hatred.


Maybe if we all tried to treat others as we wanted to be treated and forgave those who have wronged us, the world would be a kinder, gentler place.  I can at least hope for that and try to live it in my own life.

Going to Texas



My thesis is bringing me to Texas to witness the human drama of an execution.  I'm going there with a fair amount of reluctance, but also a genuine curiosity.

Since this thesis is about death and the people who encounter it in their daily professional lives, I am interviewing Mike Graczyk,  an AP writer who has witnessed and written about several (I'm talking hundreds here) executions, a chaplain who spiritually advises inmates and is a source of comfort, Jim Willett, a former warden, and Khristian Oliver , the condemned man.  People who commit suicide and death row inmates are the only people in the world who know the date and approximate time of their deaths.  And no, I am not going to be present for his execution.  He has invited his five people and frankly, I'm not quite sure I should be present.

Obviously, the person missing from this equation is the victim, Joe Collins.  He has nothing to do with my thesis, but in all the stories surrounding Khristian Oliver and his trial, he is missing.  So, I thought I'd mention him in this post.

The above picture of Jesus was painted by Kermit Oliver, Khristian's father who is a renowned artist from Waco.  The face of Jesus is Khristian.

Okay, finally I would like to post something from Story Corps about forgiveness.  If you have not listened to Story Corps, now is the time.  It's fabulous and real.  Get your Kleenex ready.

Story Corps

Thanks for reading.