Just
over 20 years ago, Anthony Colon’s brother was shot and killed by three
men. Unarmed and unable to defend
himself, he was shot thirteen times. Colon
and his brother had a very close relationship.
He remembers always being protected by his brother and never having to
fight his battles alone, if at all. Therefore,
after his brother’s death, Colon experienced extreme grief, which mainly
manifested itself in a great anger. This
rage slowly began to consume his entire life, until he decided that he had let
this event control him for long enough, turned to religion, and transformed that
anger into love and forgiveness.
Due
to a stroke of immense luck, while visiting a friend in prison, Anthony Colon
saw one of his brother’s murderers. He
quickly approached this man, Michael Rowe, and forgave him. Rowe showed his extreme remorse for the
murder and the two men became friends.
Colon visited Rowe regularly, and Colon even attended Rowe’s parole
hearing, vouching for him along the way.
Rowe was recently released from prison and the men work together at
Exodus Transitional Community, an organization that helps people returning from
prison reenter society.
In
my opinion the amount of openness and acceptance that both men showed is
astounding. The fact that these two
could work together for the common goal of helping people is truly inspiring.
