Traveling on the ICE bullet train today, I walked to the dining car to have a cup of coffee. I saw a young German soldier sitting at a table and asked whether I might sit across from him. I thanked him for his service, and we chatted a bit. He said he has only been in three months, but his dream is to join the KSK (Special Forces). I told him that was a tough but admirable goal. He asked me what I do. I replied that I am a missionary—a pastor telling migrants about Jesus. At that point, he said, “If you are a pastor, I have a question: Do I have to forgive?” I asked him, “Are you a Christian?” “I’m an atheist,” he replied. “Well, if you were a Christian, you’d have to forgive. After all, Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ But even if you are not a believer, you should still forgive. If you hold that bitterness inside of you, over time it’s going to eat you up. It’s like a boil. It has to be lanced so you can let all that pus and bitterness run off.” “It’s my mother…” he said, “and what she did to me when I was a kid. I haven’t been in touch with her for 7 or 8 years.” “Write her a letter for Christmas,” I suggested. “Tell her you forgive her. You will find it liberating. And it might be one of the best Christmas presents she will ever receive. And by the way, I don’t think you are really an atheist. They’re quite rare.” “Actually, I was baptized Protestant,” he admitted. “Well, in that case, let’s just say you’ve taken a temporary detour from Christ. Remember, even ‘If we are faithless, He remains faithful’ (2 Timothy 2:13).” “Thank you for saying that…Somehow I feel it was providential that we met today. Too bad I must get off here. I have so many more questions. Is there any way I can stay in touch with you?” I gave him my number.” The ICE had barely pulled out of the station when I got a next: “My name is so-and-so. We just met on the train. Let’s stay in touch.” Thank you, Jesus, for another everyday miracle.
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