Forgiveness is the economy of the heart... forgiveness saves the expense of anger,
the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.
Hannah More (1745-1833)
the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.
Hannah More (1745-1833)
In the midst of several requests for assistance and all the routine activities of a Tuesday morning, a person entered the church, whom I have helped in the past and who frequently panhandles in parking lots for enough change to purchase a cup of coffee, and walked away with a couple very loved church toys. The stolen items were two stuffed lambs that welcome young children in our Welcome Center along with their stuffed lion partners.
I know something about this thief and I know he has a history of mental illness. And so, I went out to look for him and for the stolen toys. I was not successful in either search. This is not the first time I have looked through dumpsters and bushes in alleys close to the church for an item that wandered away from the building. Had I found him and the stolen toys, honestly, I would have retrieved the toys and given him a stern warning about removing things from other people’s property. Call me clueless, but I know he doesn’t get it. He really doesn’t know how to function in our world of commerce and ownership, and he doesn’t have any of the skills to provide for his participation in the systems we participate in and benefit from. I’m not excusing his actions. Stealing is wrong, no matter what. I am sad that he took something so well loved by our children. And, I know that he just doesn’t get it.
We are all like that at some point in our lives. We just don’t get it. We don’t really comprehend the kind of love that God has for each and everyone of us, even toy thieves. We don’t really understand the implications of our systems of wealth upon those who live in utter desperation. We don’t want to admit that the gospel is clear about our responsibility as disciples of Jesus to reach out with pure compassion toward those who struggle for survival in a world that they did not design and that too often rejects them. We don’t want to know the breadth of love that requires us to forgive and even more to love those we name as enemies. Sometimes, we just don’t get it, do we?
So, I’m reminded of the quote I read in a newspaper after vandals damaged a tree at a local church, “we do so much to help these folks (implied was their poor neighborhood) and this is how they treat us.” The church decided to end the Christmas outreach program they had been successful with was because it was too much of a burden and did little to really help anyone as evidenced by the crime. Several weeks later the culprits were found, and you guessed it, they didn’t live in the neighborhood and they were not poor. They didn’t get it either.
My hope is that the symbols of humble servant hood and God’s peace that have disappeared from the church, somehow, somewhere end up in the arms of a child in need of God’s tender care...whether they "get it" or not.
