by Nancy Oelklaus, Ed. D.

You may have seen the story in news reports. Armando Galarraga was pitching a perfect game. Then the first base umpire made a mistake. He called a runner safe when every camera filming the runner’s arrival at first base showed the first baseman had him out. But the umpire called it the way he saw it, and his decision stood–the runner was safe. The pitcher’s perfect game evaporated because of the umpire’s human error.

His reaction? He smiled, walked back to the pitcher’s mound, and resumed the game. Then he forgave the umpire for making a mistake.

Once again, we see the power of nonresistance. Not expecting perfection. Not flying apart when someone makes a mistake that affects us. My mind flittered back to Gandhi. The Amish in the schoolhouse killings. And now, most recently, in America’s favorite pastime–baseball.

Once again, I am reminded that love is stronger than hate. Forgiveness is preferable to holding grudges. Nonresistance is less painful than holding on to slights and injustices. People aren’t perfect. That includes me and you. I don’t know about you, but when I’m the person in the umpire’s position, I want to be forgiven. May God grant me the willingness to be forgiving when I’m in the pitcher’s place.