Redeeming the Past

In 1990, Fr Michael Lapsley, an Anglican priest active in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, opened a letter bomb that nearly killed him. Though he survived, the blast took both his hands and one of his eyes. This memoir tells the story of this horrendous event, beginning with the journey that led him there – particularly his rising awareness of the radical demands of the gospel and his growing identification with the freedom struggle. But that was not the end of his inspiring journey. In post-apartheid South Africa, Fr. Lapsley saw a whole nation in need of healing. He discovered a new vocation: drawing on his own experience of trauma to promote the healing of others, in South Africa, and ultimately throughout the world.This book will inspire anyone who has had to face hardship, brokenness and adversity. It celebrates the triumph of the human spirit and will encourage readers to face any obstacle with a heart full of courage and forgiveness.Michael Lapsley and Redeeming the Past have received acclaim and support from around the globe with a foreword by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and a score of celebrity endorsements:‘Michael’s life represents a compelling metaphor ... a foreigner who came to our country and was transformed. His life is part of the tapestry of the many long journeys and struggle of our people.’ – Nelson Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa