Death and Forgiveness

In an instant on Monday Mr. Dong Yoon’s world was destroyed.

A disabled F/A-18D Hornet Marine corp fighter, crashed into his home killing his wife, Young Mi Yoon, 36, his daughters Grace Yoon, 15 months, and  Rachel Yoon, 2 months, and his mother-in-law, Suk Im Kim, 60.   The family had been living in the house for one month.

In the face of such a catastrophe the overwhelming temptation would be to lash out at the pilot of the plane.  Instead Mr. Yoon has made statements such as this:

“I pray for him not to suffer for this action,” Yoon said at a news conference, according to The Los Angeles Times. “I know he’s one of our treasures for our country.”

“I don’t have any hard feelings,” Yoon told reporters near the ruins where his home once stood and three generations of his family died. “I know he did everything he could.”

I unhesitatingly state that Mr.  Yoon is a far better Christian than I am.  It is all well and good to talk about forgiveness, but it is hard to do, especially in the face of such an overwhelming catastrophe.  My prayers for Mr.  Yoon and his loved ones who perished.  May Mr. Yoon be granted the grace from God to carry on in the face of such a terrible loss. 

“I believe my wife and two babies and mother-in-law are in heaven with God,” said Yoon.”  Amen Mr. Yoon, may they even now be enjoying the Beatific Vision.