67 - Fallibility, Forgiveness
Paracletes and friends, this month brings with it not only the rebirth of spring, but a solemn day of remembrance. We pause to reflect on the story of Harambe — a creature of innocence and strength, who met his end through no fault of his own. Though born of tragedy, May 28th has become a symbol of something greater: a mirror held to humanity, revealing both our power and our imperfection.
The Second Keystone teaches us: “Remember that you are fallible like everyone else; be ready to admit and forgive wrongdoing”. It is an eternal truth that we are prone to error. Error in judgment, error in perception, and error in action. The events of that day remind us that even when intentions are good, outcomes can be devastating. In recognizing our fallibility, we are not condemned; rather, we are invited to rise to greater humility. To acknowledge that we do not always know what is right, and to forgive others when they stumble in that same uncertainty.
Forgiveness, then, is not a dismissal of consequence but a declaration of understanding. It is an act of grace that clears the way for renewal. Each year on May 28th, we are called to examine our hearts: whom have we judged too harshly, whom have we misunderstood, and what harm might we have done through haste or fear? Only through self-reflection and compassion can we begin to repair the moral fabric that binds us all.
The Sixth Keystone reminds us further: “In all things strive for an equitable result imbued with integrity and empathy”. Equity does not mean equal treatment in all cases, but fair and compassionate discernment in every case. It requires that we act not merely from rule or reflex, but from a heart and mind guided by empathy. Harambe’s story challenges us to question whether our sense of justice is grounded in fear or in fairness, in reaction or in reflection.
When we act with empathy, we honor the divine within all living beings. When we seek equity, we build a world that balances strength with mercy, power with conscience. By doing this, we honor the Paraclete, we honor one another and we honor the community we strive to build.
Let that day, then, be one not of bitterness, but of awakening. Let it remind us that our capacity for compassion is boundless if we choose to nurture it. Harambe’s passing is not only a story of loss; it is a parable of awareness — that every life, however humble, holds meaning, and every decision, however small, carries weight.
May we go forth from this day renewed in our commitment to humility and empathy. May we seek equity in our actions and forgiveness in our hearts. And may we honor the fallen — not with sorrow alone, but by living rightly, learning deeply, and loving without fear.
So let it be, and so let us remember.
