A few years ago, I took my six-year-old-daughter, Kara, to the neighborhood where I grew up. We went by the house where I lived, with its garage that dad built, and evergreen trees that I planted, but now tower in the sky. The field where we played baseball is now a large apartment building. We went to my grade school, where I pushed Kara on the swing. The playground filled my mind with memories--one in particular, that wasn't so good. There was a boy in my class who had to wear a leg brace. He was very persistent about playing with us, and we didn't always respond very kindly. One day, he was running as fast as he could, and in my anger, I purposely tripped him. Even as I write this, I still feel ashamed.

At a recent class reunion, I saw this same boy. I found out that he is an engineer, as I am, and he is a Christian. He and I talked for a long time. I wanted to tell him that I was sorry for that incident on the playground, but I did not have the courage to bring it up. When we said goodbye, I reached my hand out to shake his and he pulled me in to give me a hug. God used that hug, that day, to let me know that this young man had forgiven me. In between the words he spoke and the hug he gave me was the forgiveness that I badly needed...

A fearless element permeates authentic loving kindness, and it is clear that the power of such love is stronger than any destructive force.  There is an old Buddhist story that is much appreciated by monks. Several centuries ago, at the gates of the monastery, the abbot greeted a warlord whose tyranny terrified the local people of the region. The abbot bowed to him. The warlord, with his huge sword raised high, said to the abbot, " I am the general that can chop you in half without blinking an eyelid." The abbot bowed again before the warlord and replied, "I am the Buddhist monk that can be chopped in half without blinking an eyelid."  - Christopher Titmuss