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'Forgiveness is an easy word to say, but it's a hard thing to do'
A healing message
After a tragedy left the Rev. Dr. Johannes Christian blind, he is using his pain to teach others about the road to forgiveness.
Monday, June 04, 2007
A powerful song of praise reverberated off the walls of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Sunday morning, setting the tone for what was to come.
The Rev. Dr. Johannes Christian inspired all who would listen with his story of forgiveness and the grace of God.
Extras
"There is a little bit more about me than 'that man that was hit in the head with a rock,' " said Christian.
In July of 2001, Christian's life was forever changed when a 7-pound rock crashed through the windshield of his car while driving on Interstate 70 in Clark County. The rock, hurled by Jacob McNary, a young, troubled boy standing on an overpass, crushed Christian's face and caused him to be permanently blind.
"It was like a bomb exploded in my face," said Christian, describing the pain he felt that night. He drew gasps as he revealed photographs of his injuries.
"I do this not to glorify what Jacob did, but to understand the miracle of God," he said.
Dr. Steven Schmidt of Kettering Medical Center has performed more than 30 surgeries on Christian, "In the midst of tragedy, God raised up Dr. Steven Schmidt," Christian said. "He assured me I would look just like Denzel Washington!"
Christian also made it clear to Schmidt that he "didn't want a nose like Michael Jackson's."
People ask him how he can laugh now, and he tells them, "I don't know what I look like now, but I'm told that I'm charming."
Christian admitted that the road to forgiveness was not easily traveled.
"I was mad," he said. "I couldn't understand why God let this happen."
He later realized that some things happen so that "the Son of God may be glorified."
"Forgiveness is an easy word to say, but it's a hard thing to do — that's why I'm here," said Christian. He encouraged the crowd to let go of their anger and heal, to love one another, because "life gets better emotionally, physically and psychologically."
