大象传媒

Father Michael Lapsley was living in exile in Zimbabwe when in April 1990 he was sent a letter bomb in the post. He was targeted because he鈥檚 been an anti-apartheid campaigner in South Africa, and a chaplain for the African National Congress. In the blast he lost both of his hands and one eye, and his ear drums were ruptured.

鈥淨uite early on after the bomb, I realised that if I was filled with hatred and desire for revenge, I鈥檇 be a victim forever. That is not to say that I will not always grieve what I鈥檝e lost, because I will permanently bear the marks of disfigurement. Yet I believe I鈥檝e gained through this experience. I realise that I can be more of a priest with no hands than with two hands.鈥�

Marina Cantacuzino is an award-winning journalist who became interested in forgiveness at the time of the Iraq War. It鈥檚 a subject she鈥檚 explored now for many years, in books and through founding a charity, 鈥楾he Forgiveness Project鈥�. A common theme running through these stories is that forgiveness is difficult, messy, and complex, but it brings with it the power to transform lives.

Producer: Kim Normanton
Executive Producer: Elizabeth Burke
A Just Radio production for 大象传媒 Radio 4