PerceptivePulse, social

  I recently reflected on a profound story after a conversation with a friend. His father experienced a tragic incident where he was shot by his own brother at close range. The bullet entered one side of his face and exited the other, leaving behind fragments embedded in various parts of his facial structure. Fortunately, bystanders rushed him to the hospital, and after days of battling for his life, he miraculously survived, though he lost an eye in the process. Act of Forgiveness: Part 1 Following the incident, a police investigation took place. My friend's father had every reason to ensure his brother faced severe consequences for his actions, potentially spending the rest of his life in prison. Anger consumed him initially, but he soon considered the impact on his brother's children and innocent wife. Ultimately, he chose to help facilitate a plea bargain, resulting in his brother serving just one year in jail. For the next two decades, my friend's father endured the pa...

Charlie Ryder's story is a powerful and personal journey of forgiveness, healing, and self-discovery, as shared through his experiences with an alcoholic father. Chaotic Childhood Growing up, Charlie Ryder faced a chaotic and traumatic childhood due to his father's alcoholism. His father's behavior was marked by hiding cans of beer in the house and drinking them in secret, only to repeat this cycle in the evenings by spending most of his money at the pub. Upon returning home drunk, he would verbally abuse Charlie and his family, often stealing money from Charlie's mother. These actions filled Charlie with shame and embarrassment, particularly when he caught his father in the act Emotional and Psychological Impact The mental, verbal, and emotional abuse inflicted by his father significantly impacted Charlie's mental health. He grew up with low self-esteem, a lack of confidence, and struggled with depression. The emotional frustration and trauma from his chil...

Story of Forgiveness by Lucy Amina Chaves holds a Bachelor of Divinity degree from St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya and is currently pursuing an LL.B from the University of London. When I was younger, I thought forgiveness was an easy thing, if someone did something wrong all they had to do was say “sorry” and that was the end of the story. As I grew older, I began to realize that forgiveness isn’t always so simple - it is a journey, one best walked with Christ. This lesson did not come easy. A Painful Experience I once had a very dear friend who was more like a sibling than a friend to me. But one day she started a rumor about me. The rumor was not only false; it was one of the most painful things I’ve ever experienced. In one moment I lost my bosom buddy as well as my reputation. A Prison of Pain The situation lasted for about three years, and I kept hoping for an apology that wasn’t to come. As much as I felt I was the one wronged, holding on to the pain was not making me hea...

A radical group approaches the French government and tries to make an even exchange with hostages. They’ve taken hostage seven Trappist monks in Algeria and wish to exchange them for hostages the French have in their prison.  The French will not agree to this exchange and the radical group has threatened to execute the Trappist monks. Ultimately, they carry out their threat.  One of the monks had a premonition two years before the awful event that he would be killed. He wrote a letter to his mother with instructions that it should be opened only after his death. It read in part: “If it should happen one day – and it could be today – that I become a victim of the terrorism that now seems to encompass all the foreigners in Algeria…I would like, when the time comes, to have a space of clearness that would allow me to beg forgiveness of God and of my fellow human beings, and at the same time to forgive with all my heart the one who will strike me down…For this life lost, I give th...

  Story  of resilience, gratitude, and a dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of others The story of Russ and Kathy Van Cleve is one of entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and a deep commitment to healthcare and community service. Background and Careers Russ and Kathy Van Cleve come from families that valued a strong work ethic. Russ began his career in banking, while Kathy started hers in investment real estate. They eventually established a successful private homebuilding and land development company in Newport Beach, California Health Challenges and Mayo Clinic In 2006, Russ faced a significant health challenge when he began experiencing troubling symptoms that no local hospital could diagnose. On the advice of his local hospital's chief of staff, he was referred to the Mayo Clinic, where he was examined by gastroenterologist Kenneth K. Wang, M.D. The diagnosis was cancer of the esophagus, but thanks to early detection and innovative treatment at Mayo Cli...

  A ripple effect of forgiveness A story of forgiveness is that of Mary Johnson and Oshea Israel, a tale of redemption and healing that transcended a tragic event. The Tragic Event In 1993, Oshea Israel, then just 16 years old, shot and killed Mary Johnson's 20-year-old son, Laramiun Byrd, in a gang-related dispute in Minneapolis. The incident was a devastating blow to Mary, who was left to grapple with the loss of her only child. The Journey to Forgiveness Years later, in 2005, Mary Johnson learned that Oshea Israel was being released from prison after serving his sentence. Instead of seeking revenge or harboring resentment, Mary felt an unexpected sense of peace and a desire to meet Oshea.  She believed that meeting him could be a step towards healing and closure.When they finally met, Mary was surprised by her own feelings. She saw a young man who was remorseful and genuinely sorry for his actions. Oshea expressed deep regret for what he had done and apologized sincerely...

Nyatuel Chuol Thok Loklok was born in 1985 during the Second Sudanese Civil War. He was eleven years old when he became a child soldier. Now, he is a peacekeeper.verse from Nyatuel Chuol Thok Loklok. I was born in Nasir in 1985. At that time, South Sudan didn’t exist yet, but the south of Sudan was fighting the north. My father fought as a soldier. He was killed in 1989 in Nasir. Every day and night I heard gun shots. It was a warzone. We didn’t have access to school as children, because there was no school. As small children, we played with guns. So I adopted that as my way of life. By the time I was eleven, I had a militaristic mindset. I knew even then that if you didn’t have a gun, someone could come and take your wife away. If you didn’t have a gun, someone could take your sister away. If you didn’t have a gun, someone could take your daughter away. Everyone had a gun. So I joined the military. There were no other options. School was nonexistent and the fighting was everywhere. ...