Forgiveness is a lesson for us all

<I>This is certain, that a man who studies revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.</I>

<B>Francis Bacon</B>

The bitterness and anger spilling forth from both sides in the current controversy regarding the management practices or lack thereof in the Anderson Fire Protection clearly shows a lack of forgiveness.

Long-forgotten slights are magnified and taken completely out of context on both sides, turned into accusations and hurled back and forth with the sole intent of causing the maximum amount of pain and discomfort.

It is time, folks, to step back a pace or two, take a deep breath and look long and hard into the faces of your neighbors, co-workers and public servants.

When Jesus was teaching one morning at the Temple in Jerusalem, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. (from John 8, the New Living Translation of the Bible)

"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?"

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

The Bible never states what Jesus wrote in the dust. Perhaps, as some religious leaders have suggested, he was listing the sins of those accusing the woman.

Whatever he wrote, the words he spoke caused the accusers to realize that they, too, had done things for which they were ashamed.

"When the accusers heard (Jesus' words), they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?"

"No, Lord," she said.

And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."

Until the facts are known, only the fire board and the investigator know what accusations have been brought forth against the district's management team, headed by Fire Chief Joe Piccinini.

Investigator Neil Purcell, Jr., will complete his written report on a nearly four-week investigation by Thursday, according to Keith Webster, chair of the fire district's board of directors.

So far, Purcell has only presented the board and its attorney, Michael Fitzpatrick, with a verbal summary of his findings.

Webster said Thursday that the fire board's five members would need another week to digest Purcell's written report before they could come to any conclusions about what actions, if any, might be appropriate.

The fire board will meet again in closed session on June 25 to determine whether there is consensus on the matter.

Until then, for all involved, discretion should be the rule and not the exception. Spreading gossip, rumor and innuendo will do far more harm than good at this point. That doesn't mean that there aren't some hard questions that the public needs answered.

The Concerned Citizens for a Fair Local Government group has made a request under California's public records act for information about the cost of the investigation and whether Neil Purcell is licensed to conduct a personnel investigation as defined by the Ralph M. Brown Act.

The Valley Post has some additional questions as well for which we are also seeking answers.

Meanwhile, as Shania Twain sings on one of her Top 40 singles titled "<B>Don't Be Stupid,</B>"

Stop overreacting

You even get suspicious when I paint my nails

It's definitely distracting

The way you dramatize every little small detail

Don't freak out until you know the facts

Relax, Max.