Stabbing and Salvation
Today this story made it into the BBC News headlines, and to say it caught my attention is an understatement.
Mr Vincent Uzomah, a supply teacher in a school in Bradford, was stabbed by his 14-year-old pupil on 11 June. Today the case went to court, and the boy was landed with an appropriate number of years in the clink.
Quoting Mr Uzomah, “As a Christian, I have forgiven this boy who has inflicted this trauma and pain on to me and my family.
"It was, however, important for the law to run its course and for a strong message to be sent out, especially to kids of similar tendencies, that violence is never acceptable. "Our prayer for him is that he will make use of the opportunities and support that will be provided to him, to become a changed person who will make a positive contribution to society."
To produce such a tender-hearted statement after suffering considerable trauma is no mean feat, but to openly profess one’s faith (and thanks to God) on national television takes a large slice of bare-faced courage. I offer this post as a humble pat on the back to Mr Uzomah, for standing firmly in demonstration of his beliefs, and choosing to forgive, even when he had the right to feel sanctimonious. Compassionate behaviour like that is rarely seen, such that it makes national news when a man acts out of mercy rather than revenge.
What surprised me was my own reaction to this man’s graciousness. I was slow to recognise the strength it must have taken for Mr Uzomah to say what he said. In fact, my initial thought was that he was using Christianity as a way of earning respect and dignity from the general public: ”Oh, what a good man he must be - he fears God”.
Then it dawned on me that his faith wasn’t an excuse, rather, the very reason why he was able to forgive his attacker (and I duly reproved myself for being such a skeptic). The fact that Mr Uzomah turned to God did not make the challenge of forgiveness any easier. Instead of passing it all off as his own good nature, he attributed his graciousness to the God he serves - a firm acknowledgement that he did not act in his own power, but in God’s.
What an example of faith making a positive impact on society - believers promoting grace and mercy in a world where religion is tearing lives apart. Indeed, when faith is fresh and real, it is one of the most (perhaps the most) genuine things one can witness. It speaks hope into situations that would otherwise be hopeless. It crosses frontiers and builds bridges. Religion traps people in moral duty and patriotism, the truth sets them free. Mr Uzomah is a prime example of this simple fact.
