When I was a child I had a friend. A year older than me I met him through school when I moved to the small rural community. He and I had a lot of similar hobbies and interests. Recently I was reading about his death.

The topic of his death came up in a Facebook  thread I had been looking at. Someone was complaining about the past. About school, about teachers and parents. As I watched what I realized was this person was looking for a wrong to be righted.

My friend did not just die. He died many years ago. Over 40 years ago. The people on the thread wanted to extract justice from people who were dead. People who had done things to them. To others.My school was like any school. We had the typical cross section of students as well as teachers. It was the era of Viet Nam, cold war, nuclear fears and the infiltration of “rock ‘n’ roll” music sure to scare our parents.

My friends name was Geoff.

Our first real time spent together was in Cub Scouts together. We were in the same den together with Mrs. Mc.. We were both competitive and we were always competing against one another. We would get a badge and them we would work overtime to get our gold and silver arrowheads. My dad was the Cubmaster and I am pretty sure he struggled when Geoff and I would receive award after award.

We also went to church together. Our parents were friends. His dad a rich bass voice would fill the small stone church. We spent a lot of time hanging out together.

One year we decided to build a carnival for the neighborhood kids. We build rides and games and so much more. We were innovative.

Sometime after that I went to private school and at some point he went off to college. It was not long after than he killed himself. Bullied in school. Hazed.

So, as I read the thread I wondered what resolution would bring my friend back? What would change things? What about the teacher that yelled or a student that bullied? What is the resolution that is expected?

I was a person who sought revenge. I never thought I would be anything else. Then Jesus came into my life. I look back on all the things I did. All the things that were done to me. One day I was “awakened” to “turn the other cheek.”

Sometimes I think of my friend. I do not need to read his name in a Facebook thread. I remember his death could have been my death.

I am convinced that redigging the wells of bitterness and hurt will never bring the resolution we are seeking. I understand the desire for an apology or justice to right an injustice. I know I can not fix the worlds ills in their entirety. A lot of it takes personal responsibility and a willingness to close the door on the past.

Many will go through a difficult holiday. Dysfunctional relatives and friends don’t make it easier. Difficult situations including divorce, abuse and infidelity do not make it easier.

The answer for this type of pain can only be found in the person of Christ. Our job as believers is to get people connected to the one who can heal hurts, apply balms to pain. We are the light of the world. The voice of hope.

Think about that this Christmas season.