Linda Slinger opened a door into forgiveness for me.
Keith and Linda – together in the 1990s
It was also true that Linda was a very strong person. She knew herself. She knew what she wanted and how she felt. I am a person who likes to have things my way at times. One of these times, Linda´s strength and my desire to have things my way bumped into each other and we had an argument. I don´t remember what it was about, but we yelled at each other. Linda went to her room, slamming the door. I went down to the basement t.v. room and slammed the door.
While I was watching television, I took some pleasure in being resentful. I knew I was right. I had told Linda so. She was the one who couldn´t see things my way. I sat in front of the television enjoying my bitterness for a while.
Then a knock came on the door. Without opening it, Linda said, ¨Keith, it´s Linda. Can I come in?¨ I said, ¨Sure.¨ Linda came into the room, stood by the door and went on to say, ¨Keith, I´m sorry. Will you forgive me?¨
Asking for Linda´s forgiveness was the last thing I had in mind at that moment. Knocking on Linda´s door and apologizing did not even occur to me. I was stuck. I couldn´t move because of my bitterness. Why should I apologize? And yet, it was the very thing Linda knew she needed to do. Linda knew that things would not be made right between us until we came together and apologized to each other.
Linda opened a door into the ways of forgiveness. I began to see more clearly after Linda showed me how. Forgiveness is not easy. It takes a great deal of practice. I feel like I still have a long way to go, but thanks to Linda I am able to go through the door every now and then. The door which leads each one of us home.
– Keith Reynolds was an assistant at L’Arche Daybreak and remains a close friend of the community, most recently leading our Assistants Weekend in February 2014. Linda Slinger lived at L’Arche Daybreak for many years until she passed away a few years ago. She is remembered fondly by many people.
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