After a gun-wielding 14-year-old killed his son Jason at the local high school, Anglican minister Dale Lang led a memorial service and publicly prayed for the killer and his family.

That was 10 years ago, and to this day, the Taber, Alta., resident continues to share his story and message of forgiveness.

Lang was in Toronto Nov. 20 for a restorative justice conference to speak about forgiveness as a means to break a cycle of violence.

"If I was still angry at that young man for taking the life of my son, I would be doing more damage to my wife, to my family and to myself," Lang said.

"If you stay in that anger for any length of time, it will become like a prison, a place that's very difficult to leave. When we choose to forgive, we can make the choice even though sometimes it's incredibly difficult and sometimes it will take a while to get to the path of forgiveness."

A remarkable man and a wonderful family. Read it all--KSH.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Provinces • Anglican Church of Canada • * Culture-Watch • Violence • * Theology • Pastoral Theology

1. RexI wrote: We really should avoid anger and hatred. Besides that it is not a good feeling towards others it does not bring you any good to your health either. Instead of keeping some angst in your heart why not celebrate and feel the true essence of Holidays. Kwanzaa is one of the three main end of the year holidays, along with Christmas and Hanukkah, and searches for “Kwanzaa 2009” on Google Trends indicate that some people are wondering when it occurs. Those unfamiliar shall now be illuminated. Kwanzaa is celebrated on the same dates every year, December 26th to January 1st of the New Year, and that never changes. December 3, 10:47 pm | [comment link]

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