I was rescued from going down a path where I would have hurt others (and myself) in an attempt to get even with the world. It was at Caux, the international Initiatives of Change center in Switzerland, that 22-year-old Laura Trevelyan from Britain had a life-changing experience. During one session on 'Regions in crisis, regions in recovery', Laura listened agog as people from war-torn areas told heart-rending stories of suffering and pain. She remembers one Russian woman talking of all she had been through in her country and in her marriage. In spite of everything she had decided to forgive her Communist oppressors and her unfaithful husband. Laura could hardly believe what she was hearing - she had never encountered such openness, honesty and bravery. Having been let down in a relationship herself, Laura had come to the conference feeling cynical about all relationships. 'The experience had left me feeling that it would be the height of stupidity to trust anyone or to believe that anyone loved anyone. Talking with people at Caux convinced me otherwise. I was rescued from going down a path where I would have hurt others (and myself) in an attempt to get even with the world. Caux offered me an alternative life.'
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