As a result of their participation in campaign conversations, Maryland Public Television’s Campaign for Love & Forgiveness partner, Friends of the Northeast Interfaith Peace Garden, built and dedicated a Garden of Forgiveness last summer.  Their local CBS affiliate, WJZ, covered a profound story of forgiveness told at the dedication ceremony. Below is an excerpt and link to the full story.

“Jessica Vetter was killed in a motorcycle accident. But her death brought the person responsible for her death and her father together.” Jeffrey Vetter, Jessica’s father, forgave Michael Jacoby, who while driving drunk, caused the accident that killed Jessica. How did this happen, when as Jeffrey admits, he was initially mean, angry, nasty and vengeful? This is another astounding story of forgiveness that has changed both Michael and Jeffrey in deep ways. The short wjz.com article gives an overview of the story, but also posted on the Web page are the full interviews with both men, recorded for the television report and worth watching.   

Do a loved one’s habits get on your nerves? How do you summon love or forgiveness when daily irritations get the best of you? Check out Harriet Watson’s story of how she got past a “grinding” irritation to find her husband endearing all over again.

Harriet’s digital story came out of a workshop sponsored by campaign partner, KEET/Eureka in northern California. In January, participants from the Humboldt Community Breast Health Project and the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre came together to transform a brief personal story about love and forgiveness into a digital story.

Participants used their voices, artwork, photos, and even the “Ken Burns effect” to create humorous and serious stories of love and forgiveness. Sample a few for yourself.

Martin Doblmeier, director of The Power of Forgiveness, shares his impressions on forgiveness after working on the film which will be broadcast on many public television stations this month.

Mounting scientific evidence points to forgiveness as a tool that can help improve the quality of our lives. When we let go of our grudges it can almost instantly reduce our blood pressure, ease our heart rate, and eventually clear a path to the happiness we all seek.

But what struck me in producing this film is the hidden, even more hopeful power in forgiveness that goes well beyond the medicinal value for the offended person. That is, the potential that forgiveness has to transform ourselves and others.

“Forgiveness will not be possible until compassion is born in your heart, ” said Buddhist master, Thich Nhat Hanh, during my interview with him for The Power of Forgiveness film. When our minds and hearts are opened to why the other person behaved the way they did, not only do we start down the path toward forgiving them, but they now realize someone has actually heard and felt their suffering, he explained. Not being heard, in fact, may cause people to lash out in the first place. If this is true for individuals, I believe it may be true for whole communities or nations. That is the great hope for forgiveness, that it will not only improve our own lives in the short run, but by example, transform others and lead to lasting change.

Campaign partner WTVI in Charlotte, N.C., is using a whimsical, artistic red bench to remind the public of the Campaign for Love & Forgiveness. The red bench—which has been the centerpiece of a local theatre production—has traveled throughout Charlotte, appearing at various community events. In the summer of 2007, the red bench was an integral part of a public memorial service coordinated by the Mothers of Murdered Offspring. People attending the service were encouraged to sit on the bench and share a moment of understanding and forgiveness. In December 2007, the bench was featured at a community prayer breakfast attended by more than 200 local clergy members. Where will the red bench appear next? Find out more about the Charlotte campaign at their Web site.