I have discovered over the years that others learn more from my Hall of Shame than from my Hall of Fame. The following is not one of my shining moments of my walk with God.
As a volunteer Virginia Beach Police Chaplain, I have learned that one of the dangers of both police and chaplain work is the tendency to slowly get cynical as you see people experiencing the consequences of their criminal, irresponsible, and sometimes down right stupid actions. Cynicism easily transforms into anger and judgmentalism when you see innocent lives destroyed because of another’s stupidity.
This happened to me this past year when I responded to a double fatality caused by a drunk driver slamming into an innocent couples car resulting in the death of both the occupants. As I ministered to the couple’s adult daughter, both at the accident scene and later at the hospital, I shared in her anger towards the perpetrator over her parent’s death, and I inwardly rejoiced with her when the investigating officer informed her that the driver was being charged with manslaughter.
Fortunately, God had a wake up call for me in the form of an e-mail from one of my fellow chaplains, David, inquiring if the chaplain at the scene of this tragic accident had the opportunity to minister to the driver. Not only had I not had the opportunity, but the truth be known, until that moment I had no desire to do so. A brief phone conversation with David revealed that he was highly thought of by his coworkers and peers, plus his family was devastated by the tragedy that had encompassed them.
God wasn’t done with me yet; the next Sunday as I was leaving the sanctuary at church, a woman I knew in passing grabbed my arm. She was his co-worker and friend, hurting deeply for all who had been touched by the calamity that had befallen them, and deeply distressed that no one, not family, friends or priest, was allowed to visit him as he lay handcuffed to his hospital bed and under guard. From my conversation with her I learned that his actions that fateful day where completely out of character.
In my self-righteous judgmentalism I had forgotten that God is always there for those who fail, ready to give them another chance as He does a work of restoration in their lives. God knows I’ve had to throw myself on His mercy often enough during my lifetime. In fact, years ago He showed me something about mercy that I had never seen before. The only one who never needs mercy is the one who has never failed. Therefore, our failure does not disqualify us from His mercy; rather it qualifies for His mercy!
Jesus taught, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
This tells me that God tends to treat us the way we treat others. With all my weaknesses and shortcomings, no one needs more mercy than I do. Therefore, I have decided I must be merciful to everyone I interact with. “Lord, please keep from this pitfall in the future, in Jesus name, Amen.”
[Editor's Comment: It was my privilege to endorse Joseph Paluszak a few years ago. He is an ordained minister of the Gospel of Redemption Ministries Conference, formerly known as the Eastern Virginia Conference. Recently, I was able to re-connect with him at their promotional conference at Williamsburg, VA. This article by Paluszak is in response to my request.]
Posted on
Tue, October 25, 2011
by Hugh Morgan