One morning at our house in Manila we woke up to a surprise. We found the lights at the gate of our house missing. Our neighbours, the informal settlers, came to know and soon found out who it was. They took the young man to the local police and the police called me to ask whether we want to press charges against the young man or not.

I was hesitating for a while. Should I let him get away with it without teaching him a lesson, or should I press charges with the risk that he might end up in jail?  How would that benefit him?

I called a friend who knows much about criminal behaviour and this friend simply asked me, “Have you ever seen the movie ‘Les Miserables’?” He did not have to say much more. I went to the police station talked to the guy and spoke some words to him and offered him help and the young man went home.

I was soon reminded that mercy and forgiveness can go a longer way than justice and punishment.  This is how God deals with us and we are very fortunate for that.