Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Over the past several weeks, our news headlines have been dominated by a grating political campaign season, violent and deadly demonstrations in North Africa, and the nation’s ongoing financial slump. It would have been very easy, then, to miss these four inspiring stories that may have slipped past your news radar.
“LET HIM MAKE SOMETHING OF HIMSELF”
Last Monday, an 18-year old youth named Takunda Mavima appeared in court to hear a judge sentence him for the accidental deaths of 17-year old Tim See and 15-year old Krysta Howell, passengers in the car that an intoxicated Mavima crashed while driving home from a party in Wyoming, Michigan.
Having pled guilty to all charges, Mavima stood tearfully before the judge and repented: “I’m so sorry that I took two bright, intelligent, wonderful people out of this world …. I wish … I’m so sorry.”
One of the victim’s sisters then stood before the judge and spoke these astonishing words of forgiveness and mercy: "I am begging you to let Takunda make something of himself in the real world -- don't send him to prison and get hard and bitter, that boy has learned his lesson a thousand times over and he'll never make the same mistake again.” And as Mavima was walking out of the courtroom, the victim’s father stood up, went over to Mavima, and gave him a hug. [1]
“HE IS WORTHY OF FORGIVENESS”
In roughly a month, Terry Williams is set to be executed in Philadelphia for the 1984 murder of Amos Norwood. Until then, a collection of advocates is pleading for clemency from Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett, on the grounds that he was only eighteen at the time of the murder, and a childhood victim of numerous sexual abuses by neighbors, teachers, and even Norwood himself.
What makes this petition so extraordinary is that among the lawyers, advocacy groups, and religious figures pressing for clemency is none other than Mamie Norwood, the widow of the victim. At first, her husband’s murder was “unbearable” for her. But then, she wrote in her petition:
“Several years ago, after much prayer and self-reflection, I found the strength and courage to forgive Terry Williams. I do not wish to see him executed. His execution would go against my Christian faith and my belief system. He is worthy of forgiveness, and I am at peace with my decision to forgive him and have been for many years. I wish to see his life spared." [2]
“A VERY FORGIVING CHILD”
Earlier this month, a family from California gathered in a Honolulu courtroom to face the young man who killed their daughter in a jet ski accident last August. 20-year old Tyler Dagby had been speeding while posing for pictures on his watercraft on Hawaii’s Keehi Lagoon when his negligence caused him to crash into 16-year old Kristen Fonseca, who died of brain injuries the following day.
Dagby wept as the family read a poem Fonseca had written about her dreams and hopes for her future. Then, Evangelina Canton, Fonseca’s mother, addressed the court:
"I cry in the morning, I cry before I go to sleep, I cry randomly during the day looking for justice. I mean, I'm not trying to make this guy suffer, but I need for him to understand that there's a consequence to every decision we make. That's the kind of daughter my daughter was, a very forgiving child, and so I know that it's what she would want me to do.” [3]
“WHAT I DIDN’T SEE WAS HATE. I DID NOT SEE REVENGE”
Finally, you might remember last month’s horrific shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, in which a lone gunman motivated by white supremacy took the lives of six people and injured four others. What you probably did not know about was the candlelight vigil that took place two days later, where residents in the community joined with Sikh faithful to remember the victims.
Observers were amazed by the response of the Sikh congregation. Instead of anger, revenge, or bitterness, Sikh congregants were unified in their message of forgiveness for the shooter.
Police chief John Edwards was among those amazed by their response. “In 28 years of law enforcement, I have seen a lot of hate. I have seen a lot of revenge. I’ve seen a lot of anger. What I saw, particularly from the Sikh community this week, was compassion, concern, support. What I didn’t see was hate. I did not see revenge. I didn’t see any of that. And in law enforcement that’s unusual to not see that reaction to something like this. I want you all to understand how unique that is.”
Teri Pelzek was one of the Oak Creek residents who was startled by the Sikh’s reaction.
“It surprised everyone when they were victims of someone so full of hatred. Because of their reaction, saying they’d like to forgive and move on, I think that’s quite the attitude to hear after what just happened. I knew nothing about them at all. I don’t think a lot of people did. When we don’t know about somebody’s religion we assume the worst.” [4]
DO UNTO OTHERS
The common thread among these four amazing stories is clear: there is transformative power in forgiveness. No, it does not restore things back to the way they were. But the act of forgiveness can bring a healing to those whose wounds are deep and grievous. And while you will rarely find stories like this from news agencies that prefer scandalous, more controversial headlines, you can believe that moments like these are exactly what Jesus had in mind when he spoke what we commonly call “The Golden Rule,” our text for this Sunday as part of our sermon series “A New Look at Old Favorites.”
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
We like this verse because it is pithy, quaint, and a tidy reminder to respect other people around you. It makes for a good bumper sticker, but rarely do we think through its weighty implications. Let’s remember that in the context of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain in Luke, this command by Jesus is much more demanding, much more complicated, and much less popular:
I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:27-31)
We can admit that what Jesus asks for here seems remarkably unreasonable. Turning the other cheek and giving up your shirt seem as ineffective as they are foolish. Frankly, if we really thought about what Jesus meant when he first offered the “The Golden Rule,” we’d wonder why it’s become as popular as it is today. Yet, there is no mistaking what Jesus meant. Forgive. Show mercy. Demonstrate compassion. Offer others what you’d hope they’d offer you, if the tables were turned, no matter how hard it might be.
Join us this Sunday as we take a closer look at “The Golden Rule,” and search for ways to better understand what “turning the other cheek” and “offering your shirt” meant to Jesus, in the context of first century Greco-Roman culture. We’ll discover that these actions are not signs of weakness, acquiescence, or helplessness, but bold and courageous demonstrations of strength. And, we’ll learn how fulfilling Jesus’ call for forgiveness and empathetic compassion can transform our lives and change the world.
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
Email: mdevega@sp-umc.org
[1] http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/father-michigan-car-accident-victim-hugs-teen-driver-caused-crash-article-1.1158364
[2] http://articles.philly.com/2012-09-07/news/33651428_1_sexual-abuse-clemency-petition-elmo-smith
[3] http://abcnews.go.com/US/jet-skier-killed-16-year-hawaii-set-released/story?id=17162774#.UFfgfM3yjrM
[4] http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article3742957.ece
CHURCH CLEAN-UP DAY
Help us prepare to move back to the sanctuary by participating in this Saturday morning’s church-wide clean up day. From 9:00 to 12:00 noon, we need people to help with various cleaning projects around the campus. Consider bringing the following supplies with you, if you have them: Rags, Glass Cleaner, Buckets, Furniture Polish, Dust Mops, Brooms, Paper Towels, Clean Paint Brushes, Small Vacuums, Drop Cords, Small Hand Tools, Hammer, Small Ladder, Step Stool, Rakes, Trimmers, Pruning Shears, and Yard Waste Containers.
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