Observers

Have you ever noticed that the United Nations is great for sending "observers" all over the globe, but rarely do they actually help anyone? (Except the bad guys, of course). They are apparently send more of those "observers" to Syria. What, to watch the slaughter? Point at the perpetrators and ogle the situation? "Oh, looky there, someone's being murdered. Hmmm. Let's tell uh, umm, somebody somewhere." In one of the chapters of my new book, there was an incident in prison where a man was beaten so badly that he did not appear to be alive. My friend saw the perpetrator wash blood off his hands and knew that something horrible had occurred. So he ran up to the room where it happened and tried to get the attention of the guards, but was ignored. So he used the prison phone and called for help himself.The victim was barely breathing, and very nearly died. Thanks to my friend he lived. My friend was not an "observer" he was pro-active. We should be the same. When David saw the atrocities perpetrated by Goliath, as his own people stood watching and whimpering,he stepped up and did something about it. He went into attack mode. Today there is a headline about a woman who was "flashed" by a pervert on a train. She screamed and not one person paid any attention. So she had to grab the offender, call the police, and hold him until they arrived. Good for her. She took action instead of doing nothing. I pray that one day we will become warriors instead of wimps. Then instead of just watching what evil does, we can stop it in its tracks.

Revenge or Practicality

America seems to have an issue: a penchant for revenge. The politics of throwing criminals in prisons and jails has finally overrun our ability to handle it. We just gotta build more jails, people tell us. So the taxpayers have to dig deeper into their pockets to come up with more and more money. Problem with that is: it's not practical. It's also iffy when it comes to the Bible.

Flint, Michigan is a case in point. They are so overcrowded in their jails that they are now handing out "appearance tickets." Now, I have to say, I don't think that's a wise thing and here's why: DUIs have committed a crime AT THE TIME. They should go to jail at least long enough to sober up. Assault, burglary, etc are the same. Not too smart, if you ask me. (And I'm well aware that no one has asked me). Oh, well, I'm an opinionated woman, after all.

I remember a case several years ago of a young female drunk driver who plowed into a young man's car and killed him. She, of course, survived and went to jail for the crime. But instead of revenge, the parents of the young man went to the jail and forgave her. She was not just amazed, she was transformed! They went to bat for her at her trial, and the judge let her go on supervised probation. She will have to live with her actions for the rest of her life, but the forgiveness granted her will always be with her as well.THAT is the Biblical way. Forgiveness even with consequences.

Tomorrow is Easter and we will all be reminded of Christ's sacrifice for our sins. And it wasn't just for the righteous who committed bad things, it was for the criminals too. Remember the thief? Never forget him-he was given the mercy and love of God even as Jesus hung on the cross in mortal agony. Sometimes it takes extending the hand of help to people who are angry, hate-filled, and on the wrong path in order to make them see that life can be better.

Let's give it a try, shall we? I know my pocket book would be grateful.