Scars: signs of wounds, or signs of healing?
Just before- perhaps just after- I moved to Princeton, a boy with whom I'd attended middle school set fire to his church. The church (Greek Orthodox, and incidentally the first Orthodox parish that I'd ever entered) suffered over $1 million in damages. My parents were disgusted, and I think we all assumed that George would be summarily banned from ever returning to that church. We assumed that he might also receive a lengthy jail sentence.
How little we knew of the Orthodox at that point.
Rather than ostracize this person, the church rallied around him, prayed for him, and lobbied the judge for mercy so that he might receive much- needed psychiatric care. The sentence imposed was something like 6 months of jail time to be served on the weekends, and 5 years probation. Mental health treatment was probably also included in the deal.
The church then included this boy in the rebuilding of the damaged sanctuary. My family and I were floored- how could these people bear to even look at or speak to this boy? Why hadn't they thrown the proverbial book at him? We admired their character and admitted that we did not possess it.
How little we knew of repentance and forgiveness.
The story going around the rumor mill was that George, a volunteer firefighter, had staged the fire so that he could act heroically by "happening on the scene" and helping put the fire out before it caused much damage; this was said to be a plot to woo a girl who attended that parish. The flames got out of hand, and within minutes the church that George's ancestors had helped found was nearly destroyed. In all of the newspaper articles that I read about the incident, this was never mentioned, so it might have been simply idle talk. What WAS mentioned in the media was the belief of many people close to George that he felt intense guilt over his 72 year-old father's recent death; he had died after falling off a ladder while trying to install Christmas lights that George had refused to help put up. These sources mentioned that the fire might have been some kind of attempt at self-harm.
I am so moved that the parishioners and clergy at this church showed such a startling amount of compassion. When they surveyed their damaged church, they didn't only see a crime; they saw a rift of pain and rage, and a soul desperately in need of healing.
The word "repent" comes from a Hebrew word that means "to turn", meaning that in addition to feeling remorse over our sins we must also cooperate in our salvation by turning ourselves around. Without excusing what he had done, these parishioners saw beyond the crime, to the wound; in so doing helped mightily to begin the healing process. I've recently re-connected with George via Facebook; in the 10 years since this incident, he has become a successful entertainment producer. I believe that he now works for MTV and also produces theatrical productions.
He made quite the turn.
How little we knew of the Orthodox at that point.
Rather than ostracize this person, the church rallied around him, prayed for him, and lobbied the judge for mercy so that he might receive much- needed psychiatric care. The sentence imposed was something like 6 months of jail time to be served on the weekends, and 5 years probation. Mental health treatment was probably also included in the deal.
The church then included this boy in the rebuilding of the damaged sanctuary. My family and I were floored- how could these people bear to even look at or speak to this boy? Why hadn't they thrown the proverbial book at him? We admired their character and admitted that we did not possess it.
How little we knew of repentance and forgiveness.
The story going around the rumor mill was that George, a volunteer firefighter, had staged the fire so that he could act heroically by "happening on the scene" and helping put the fire out before it caused much damage; this was said to be a plot to woo a girl who attended that parish. The flames got out of hand, and within minutes the church that George's ancestors had helped found was nearly destroyed. In all of the newspaper articles that I read about the incident, this was never mentioned, so it might have been simply idle talk. What WAS mentioned in the media was the belief of many people close to George that he felt intense guilt over his 72 year-old father's recent death; he had died after falling off a ladder while trying to install Christmas lights that George had refused to help put up. These sources mentioned that the fire might have been some kind of attempt at self-harm.
I am so moved that the parishioners and clergy at this church showed such a startling amount of compassion. When they surveyed their damaged church, they didn't only see a crime; they saw a rift of pain and rage, and a soul desperately in need of healing.
The word "repent" comes from a Hebrew word that means "to turn", meaning that in addition to feeling remorse over our sins we must also cooperate in our salvation by turning ourselves around. Without excusing what he had done, these parishioners saw beyond the crime, to the wound; in so doing helped mightily to begin the healing process. I've recently re-connected with George via Facebook; in the 10 years since this incident, he has become a successful entertainment producer. I believe that he now works for MTV and also produces theatrical productions.
He made quite the turn.