Jenny Davis

Journal 4

June 30, 2010

Forgive?

While reading “The Sunflower” I was touched by the stories and saddened at the same time to read of my fellow man being treated so terribly. I cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like to experience what those in the concentration camps and ghettos were forced to endure.

Once I got to the hospital segment I was already carrying a very sympathetic spirit along with me as I read. Not only for those being tortured, but for those doing the torturing. It pains me to think that one man could do such a thing to another man and not feel any remorse. I have sympathy for a man who could be that cruel. I know that if they never did repent, they would be harshly judged by God. Which brings me to the SS soldier who Simon is encountered with.

While I was reading his story my sympathy only grew. I may not have the right to have such sympathy because I am not one that he had killed, tortured or directly hurt in anyway. But, I do. As stated before my sympathy is for the man being able to commit such terrible acts. My sympathy is for his mind. The soldier’s sincere repentance really got to me. I believe that no matter how terrible the act, if you sincerely repent you can be forgiven.

This brings me to another point. I believe that none of us truly “deserve” to be forgiven for any of our sins. Jesus died on the cross so that our souls would be saved if we accepted his sacrifice. We are undeserving, but, God understood that man was incapable of living a life without sin. Therefore he sent his son to die for us.

With that said there might still be a question of “Is any sin too great to be forgiven?” I do not believe so. I believe that any sin can be forgiven if the steps are taken to sincerely repent. God is the only one who can judge this though. I believe that the soldier’s repentance was sincere. But, only God knows if he did make it to heaven or not. Only God knows if his sins were forgiven. And, I believe God’s judgment is the only one that truly matters.

“What would I have done?” After careful contemplation I have come to the conclusion that I would have said, “May God bless your soul if you are deserving.” and then walked out. But I do not have the personal experience to know for certain what I would have done in this situation. I have merely answered according to my beliefs on “forgiveness”.

Jenny Davis

Journal 5

July 1, 2010

Emotion, Forgiveness

It is interesting to analyze a quote from this story against the others we have read because I do not yet know the outcome. The other stories I know how the characters ended up. I know as much as I can. But Lily, I only know 56 pages worth. Many of the stories we have read have been about forgiveness. That, I think is the main thing I have gotten from this course. Analyzing my own definition of forgiveness and applying it to each text. Each text we have read has molded my definition in every which way. And, I know this story will do the same. I believe this is the point of reading literature, to challenge our beliefs.

I believe that emotion too pays a very large part in forgiveness especially in Lily’s case. After reading this quote from Lily, “People who think dying is the worst thing don’t know a thing about life.” Lily (p.2) In the beginning of this story Lily does not seem to have much forgiveness in her heart. I say that her emotions have played into this because she has so many terrible experiences stored in her memory for such a young girl. Lily merely accepts things as they are. Her father is abusive to her mentally and to an extent physically. He shows no love for her. And I do not believe she shows any forgiveness for him. This is rightly so because T. Ray (her father) has not yet shown any sign of remorse.

This quote particularly struck me after reading so many sad stories about oppressed people who have gone through so much. In “The Sunflower” I never read that the victims of the Holocaust wanted to die. I was under the impression that they would rather survive under those terrible conditions with a tiny hope of the day that they would be freed, although many did not hold much hope for that day. I believe that is what kept Simon, the main character, alive. After considering this I started to question why a young girl would think dying was better than living her life with its ups and its downs. I believed that her emotions were getting the best of her. Would she ever be able forgive her father for the way he treated her? Would he ever deserve it?

In contrast to “The Sunflower” Lily has not yet had an apology. Simon had what he believed a sincere apology and I believe that he did forgive the man for the oppression he put on his people, the Jews. I look forward to reading more of the story to see if Lily’s father ever does repent and ask for her forgiveness.

I believe this quote is not only symbolic of how terrible it was to live with a father like hers, but also living with the guilt of her mother’s death. This event has shaped Lily’s entire life. Lily has grown up without a mother, and has been raised by a father who she believes does not love her. Holding onto the hope that her mother truly loved her as the only happy memory in her short lifetime.