To Inspire:

The triumph of good over evil is a theme writ large in history. Over and over, we see it play out and always I am inspired by those who choose the good.

In my own life I’ve been blessed to know Rachel Muha, the founder of a local not-for-profit, The Run the Race Center, on the west side of Columbus. The center serves low-income children through a private low cost/voucher elementary school for children 5-11, as well as an after school and weekend tutoring and activity program for children of all ages, including high schoolers.

Rachel was moved to start the center after the tragic murder of her son Brian back in 1999 while he was a student at Franciscan University in Steubenville. Brian and his roommate Aaron Land were abducted early in the morning by two teenage boys – who drove them to a remote spot where they tortured and murdered the two college students. Both boys were sentenced to life in prison and at their hearings, Rachel went to each of them to express her forgiveness and say that she would be praying for them. Her book, Legacy of Mercy: A True Story of Murder and a Mother’s Forgiveness chronicles her journey through anger, grief, forgiveness, and the decision to respond to the tragedy by starting The Run the Race Center. As Rachel shared when she launched the Center, she wanted inner city children to be given a path forward in life full of hope and opportunity, rather than the life of despair Brian’s murderers were living.

I pray none of you will experience the tragedy that Rachel experienced. But perhaps there is someone in your life that you need to forgive for something they’ve said or done to you. I hope you choose to reach out to them – forgiveness is not only a gift we give to others, but also a gift we give to ourselves.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Written by Matt Palmer, Partner & Co-Founder