The Forgiveness of a Stranger

I am angry at a man I've never met. I have never seen his face, I have never heard his voice, I have never shaken his hand or looked him in the eyes. I know only his name and what he has done. I am furious with this man! I am heartbroken by this man. I don't think I have ever held more anger and bitterness for anyone than I do for this man right now, and in every moment that I think of him and what he has done. One would think that it is easiest to forgive a sin by someone who they have never met. But I am struggling to forgive this stranger.

I am angry because of what he has done. He has intentionally hurt others but more than that he has hurt someone that I love. The person I love has forgiven him. Why can't I?The person I loved has moved on from the hurt. Why can't I? For some reason I am able to forgive wrongs that have been done to me, no matter how much I have been hurt and scarred I have been willing and have desired to let it go. Why does my heart ache for this man and the sin and pain he has caused? Even a decade after its occurrence, before I ever knew about it, before I ever knew the person I love. It moves me and affects me so deeply that I being to cry when I think about it, every time.

I will never meet this man. I don't want to. I don't want to face him and have to think about the things he has done. I don't want to forgive him for hurting others. I want it all to go away. I will forgive the guy who cut me off this morning, I will forgive the man who broke my heart but I don't know if I can forgive the man who hurt the person I love. What am I to do in this present condition?

"Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." Do I have to forgive those who have sinned against others?