It takes courage to keep our hearts open, especially when we have more than enough reason to feel angry and bitter. In 1975, when Richard McCann was only five years old, his mother was murdered by a serial killer. While it’s hard to comprehend this type of devastating loss, Richard has managed to keep his heart open, and subsequently has become an inspiration to others as well as one of the UK’s most sought-after motivational speakers.
After a long road of struggle, pain, and ultimately a failed suicide attempt, Richard’s turning point in grappling with grief came after hearing Desmond Tutu’s message about the power of forgiveness. While there was nothing Richard could do to bring his mother who had been murdered back, he realized that he did have a say in whether his wounds would move him toward callousness or compassion.
While we can’t rush into choosing forgiveness, it ultimately holds the potential to keep us moving forward in life. RIchard’s book has sold almost half a million copies and a film about his life is currently in the making, but in this week’s episode we have the opportunity to hear Richard’s moving story firsthand. We hope you’ll join us to hear how Richard’s story shows us that:
- Our stories aren’t over even after the darkest of tragedies
- We have a say in whether our wounds will move us towards callousness or compassion
- Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily require movement; it’s more about how you view a situation
- It is more exhausting to live with clenched fists than open hands
- Bitterness might be comfortable or even soothing for a time, but we ultimately miss out on the chance to move forward
Show Notes
- RichardMcCann.co.uk: Learn more about Richard’s work
- Just A Boy: The True Story of a Stolen Childhood: Buy it on Amazon