Stevie looked at her ex and said, "Living in South California was like Sodom and Gomorrah, Jon.” God didn't send the angels there to pray for Lot and his family. He sent them to remove those people from that vile environment. That's what Daniel Bellardi wants to do in North California: provide a positive moral environment for kids like ours. Praying for Dougie, Shawna, and Collin was important, but it wasn't enough. We should have pulled them out of L.A. and become involved with political leaders like Senator Bellardi a long time ago. If we had, maybe our Dougie ..." Stevie did not need to complete the thought. Dougie's overdose had been extremely hard on both of them.
Stevie knew her strong comment had implicated him as a failure with their children. Watching him process her words, she could not read his response. Finally he resumed eye contact. "How does Daniel Bellardi intend to keep North California morally positive? People are people, Stevie. You can take them out of Sodom and Gomorrah, but you can't make them moral."
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
God's Will and Human Effort
“When the people of North California see Senator Bellardi and Juanita Dunsmuir side by side, it won't even be a contest. During the debates, she won't have her loud music and famous friends along to charm the audience. Her liberal views will sound ridiculous next to the senator's high ideals for this state. I think the election in November will be a mere formality," Stevie said.
Jon nodded slightly. After several moments, Stevie filled the silence: "I believe I did what God wants me to do for the kids by moving up here, Jon. Remember how we prayed together for Dougie and Shawna and Collin when we first became Christians? We used to sneak into their rooms every night while they were asleep. We laid our hands on them and asked God to protect them from the 'nasty old world.' Remember?" She waited for a response.
Jon looked up. "Yeah, I remember," he said, nodding. "At least we did something right back then, didn't we?" "Now I believe our prayers were only the beginning of what we should have done. I think we should have been more responsible about protecting our kids from the evil in the world. I can almost hear God trying to answer us back then: 'Hey, I'm doing my part. But why do you think I put those kids in your hands? Use the brains and resources I gave you to protect them from the evil world.'
Jon nodded slightly. After several moments, Stevie filled the silence: "I believe I did what God wants me to do for the kids by moving up here, Jon. Remember how we prayed together for Dougie and Shawna and Collin when we first became Christians? We used to sneak into their rooms every night while they were asleep. We laid our hands on them and asked God to protect them from the 'nasty old world.' Remember?" She waited for a response.
Jon looked up. "Yeah, I remember," he said, nodding. "At least we did something right back then, didn't we?" "Now I believe our prayers were only the beginning of what we should have done. I think we should have been more responsible about protecting our kids from the evil in the world. I can almost hear God trying to answer us back then: 'Hey, I'm doing my part. But why do you think I put those kids in your hands? Use the brains and resources I gave you to protect them from the evil world.'
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Shrinking Lead
Jon asked Stevie, "Do you still feel good about where Dan Bellardi is headed, should he get elected?" "Oh, absolutely," Stevie answered with conviction. "This is a wise, godly man. Can you imagine a state governed by someone who is committed to biblical values? I mean, think of the situation at your school as an example: drugs sold and used in the rest rooms, gay kids holding hands and kissing in the halls, condoms distributed in health classes, kids practicing with them on bananas. That's not going to happen here. Think of how a morally positive environment will benefit our kids. And Senator Bellardi will win the election, Jon. There's just too much prayer and good work going on here for it not to happen."
"I've read that Juanita Dunsmuir continues to gain in the polls. Some writers think she'll eventually overtake the senator." Stevie shook her head. "She's still almost 15 percentage points behind with a little over three months to go. After the debates in September, the margin will widen again—perhaps to twenty or thirty points." "You really think it will?" Jon pressed. "I have no doubt,” she replied with confidence.
"I've read that Juanita Dunsmuir continues to gain in the polls. Some writers think she'll eventually overtake the senator." Stevie shook her head. "She's still almost 15 percentage points behind with a little over three months to go. After the debates in September, the margin will widen again—perhaps to twenty or thirty points." "You really think it will?" Jon pressed. "I have no doubt,” she replied with confidence.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Talking to the Ex
Stevie thought it seemed ridiculous for ex-husband, Jon, to get a motel room in Redding when he and the kids would be leaving early the next day for their vacation. So Stevie had offered him the sofa bed in the living room for the night. Jon's initial hesitancy revealed his own sense of awkwardness, but he finally accepted, saying thanks by treating the family to dinner out at the Burger Barn.
After bringing Jon up to date on everything the kids were doing, Stevie expected the conversation to fall off to an uncomfortable silence but it didn't. Jon said, "Tell me about your involvement with Daniel Bellardi." The change of topic surprised Stevie for two reasons. Judging from their limited discussions about North California politics to date, she did not think Jon was interested in hearing about her fascination with Daniel Bellardi. Rather, Stevie assumed that Jon regarded her as something of an idealistic right-wing fanatic for moving up here. Also surprising was the fact that Jon seemed as genuinely interested in listening now as he had been when asking about her work.
After bringing Jon up to date on everything the kids were doing, Stevie expected the conversation to fall off to an uncomfortable silence but it didn't. Jon said, "Tell me about your involvement with Daniel Bellardi." The change of topic surprised Stevie for two reasons. Judging from their limited discussions about North California politics to date, she did not think Jon was interested in hearing about her fascination with Daniel Bellardi. Rather, Stevie assumed that Jon regarded her as something of an idealistic right-wing fanatic for moving up here. Also surprising was the fact that Jon seemed as genuinely interested in listening now as he had been when asking about her work.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Love the Sinner
By his own evaluation, Jon had done well at looking past personality and performance to seeing a real person. Mac, the transient at Denny's, was Exhibit A in his most recent self-evaluation. Didn't I engage him in conversation and buy him a hot meal while everyone else in the restaurant ignored him? Didn't I show the love of Christ to him without judging his lifestyle? Haven't I done this repeatedly for people like Mac?
In the last couple of weeks Jon had realized something: Unconscionable thugs like Eugene Hackett made it difficult to look past the sin to love the sinner. Jon's attitude toward the Eugenes of the world was anything but respectful.
Jon countered Eugene's evil glare with a smile. He said, "Thank God you did miss, Eugene. Good-bye and good luck." Then he left the jail. He wondered how Stevie would respond when he told her what happened at the jail. Would she be impressed at his Christian attitude? Or would she berate him for befriending the man who had almost killed her and Collin? Unsure of the answer, Jon thought it best, at least for the time being, not to say anything to her about Eugene Hackett.
In the last couple of weeks Jon had realized something: Unconscionable thugs like Eugene Hackett made it difficult to look past the sin to love the sinner. Jon's attitude toward the Eugenes of the world was anything but respectful.
Jon countered Eugene's evil glare with a smile. He said, "Thank God you did miss, Eugene. Good-bye and good luck." Then he left the jail. He wondered how Stevie would respond when he told her what happened at the jail. Would she be impressed at his Christian attitude? Or would she berate him for befriending the man who had almost killed her and Collin? Unsure of the answer, Jon thought it best, at least for the time being, not to say anything to her about Eugene Hackett.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Hate the Sin
Eugene had not asked for forgiveness, nor did Jon expect the perpetrator to receive it graciously, if at all. Jon had come to the jail today to resolve his side of the forgiveness issue. If his action made a difference to Eugene Hackett—and he doubted that it would—all the better.
Jon stood to leave. Eugene turned to him with a leer. "What if I didn't miss? What if I snuffed them? You still say that?" The question was clearly not intended to test the depth of Jon's mercy. It was a taunt, a cruel jab aimed at an open wound.
Jon felt the pain of the verbal blow. He saw the devil in Eugene's eyes. The temptation to retaliate verbally rose like bile in Jon's throat, but he swallowed it. People might be unkind, misguided, disadvantaged, or evil in any number of ways, but they were still people—individuals created in the image of God. Appropriate consequences must be meted out for misbehavior, but those who misbehave must still be treated with respect. Hate the sin but love the sinner. How many times had he heard the pastor and others make that statement?
Jon stood to leave. Eugene turned to him with a leer. "What if I didn't miss? What if I snuffed them? You still say that?" The question was clearly not intended to test the depth of Jon's mercy. It was a taunt, a cruel jab aimed at an open wound.
Jon felt the pain of the verbal blow. He saw the devil in Eugene's eyes. The temptation to retaliate verbally rose like bile in Jon's throat, but he swallowed it. People might be unkind, misguided, disadvantaged, or evil in any number of ways, but they were still people—individuals created in the image of God. Appropriate consequences must be meted out for misbehavior, but those who misbehave must still be treated with respect. Hate the sin but love the sinner. How many times had he heard the pastor and others make that statement?
Monday, January 9, 2012
Forgiveness Offered
"Eugene, I have a couple of things I need to get off my chest. First, I want you to know that I was very angry and upset by what happened to my wife and son on April eighth." Hackett cursed and moved to stand. The husky, middle-aged deputy standing nearby placed a firm hand on his shoulder and forced him back into his seat.
Jon nodded his thanks to the deputy and continued. "We felt traumatized and violated. The injuries to my family, and the mental and emotional pain I suffered because of it, were completely uncalled for. And the realization that they could have been more severely hurt or killed is a—" "So sue me," Hackett spat, adding vile epithets directed at Jon.
Jon saw the deputy flinch, then noticed his nostrils flare and his face redden with anger. "Eugene, you need to know that I wholeheartedly support the criminal justice system and the consequences it may impose for your behavior. The second thing I want you to know is that I forgive you for what happened. I don't hold anything against you personally. In fact, I hope and pray that you come out of this experience a better person. That's all I wanted to say."
Jon nodded his thanks to the deputy and continued. "We felt traumatized and violated. The injuries to my family, and the mental and emotional pain I suffered because of it, were completely uncalled for. And the realization that they could have been more severely hurt or killed is a—" "So sue me," Hackett spat, adding vile epithets directed at Jon.
Jon saw the deputy flinch, then noticed his nostrils flare and his face redden with anger. "Eugene, you need to know that I wholeheartedly support the criminal justice system and the consequences it may impose for your behavior. The second thing I want you to know is that I forgive you for what happened. I don't hold anything against you personally. In fact, I hope and pray that you come out of this experience a better person. That's all I wanted to say."
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Facing the Perpetrator
"My name is Jon Van Horne," Jon said to the perpetrator across from him. He had imagined a number of ways Eugene Hackett might respond to his surprise visit in jail but the kid's response was immaterial to his purpose for being here. Hackett flashed a glimmer of recognition. "Yeah?" he challenged in a so-what tone.
A sudden flash of vengeance within Jon begged for expression. This arrogant, unconscionable jerk had come within inches of killing a nine-year-old boy and his mother. Hackett's only regret, he had boasted during a confession to police, was that he had not wasted someone in the process of shooting up the house. You are an incorrigible young thug who should be locked up and forgotten, Jon wanted to say. But I sure would enjoy knocking some of that attitude off your face before they throw away the key.
Again he corralled his hostility and forced himself back to the point of his visit. Delivering these words was even more difficult for Jon than formulating them. But he knew he had to do it.
"Eugene, I have a couple of things I need to get off my chest. First, I want you to know that I was very angry and upset by what happened to my wife and son on April eighth."
A sudden flash of vengeance within Jon begged for expression. This arrogant, unconscionable jerk had come within inches of killing a nine-year-old boy and his mother. Hackett's only regret, he had boasted during a confession to police, was that he had not wasted someone in the process of shooting up the house. You are an incorrigible young thug who should be locked up and forgotten, Jon wanted to say. But I sure would enjoy knocking some of that attitude off your face before they throw away the key.
Again he corralled his hostility and forced himself back to the point of his visit. Delivering these words was even more difficult for Jon than formulating them. But he knew he had to do it.
"Eugene, I have a couple of things I need to get off my chest. First, I want you to know that I was very angry and upset by what happened to my wife and son on April eighth."
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Rattler in Jail
The Los Angeles County Jail housed more inmates than many state prisons. Having cleared security, Jon was admitted to the visitors' area. Waiting for the appearance of the prisoner, Jon marveled at the turnaround in attitude that had brought him here. At first, Jon demanded that the county throw the book at the kid who could have killed Stevie and Collin. He had recognized the suspect from a picture in the newspaper from a robbery: snake tattoos entwining bare arms, the gaunt face, and the hard eyes. His homeys had called him Rattler, but his name, was Eugene Hackett.
In that instant of recognition, the frightening spring break encounter at the rec center was suddenly fresh in Jon's memory. He remembered Hackett's vile taunts, his threatening behavior, the scuffle and fall that had bloodied the kid's face. In Hackett's sick mind, shooting up Jon's house and blowing away anyone inside was somehow justified because of the humiliation he had suffered in the gym at the hands of the recreation director. Jon no longer wanted the county to prosecute Eugene Hackett, he wanted to take care of Hackett himself.
When Eugene Hackett sat down on the other side of the glass and appraised the visitor, his face showed no sense of recognition but the tattoos on his scrawny arms were a dead giveaway. "What do you want?" Hackett sneered. "My name is Jon Van Horne." He waited for the kid to process the information.
In that instant of recognition, the frightening spring break encounter at the rec center was suddenly fresh in Jon's memory. He remembered Hackett's vile taunts, his threatening behavior, the scuffle and fall that had bloodied the kid's face. In Hackett's sick mind, shooting up Jon's house and blowing away anyone inside was somehow justified because of the humiliation he had suffered in the gym at the hands of the recreation director. Jon no longer wanted the county to prosecute Eugene Hackett, he wanted to take care of Hackett himself.
When Eugene Hackett sat down on the other side of the glass and appraised the visitor, his face showed no sense of recognition but the tattoos on his scrawny arms were a dead giveaway. "What do you want?" Hackett sneered. "My name is Jon Van Horne." He waited for the kid to process the information.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Volunteering
Stevie, I'm Eden Hunter-Upshaw. Thank you for coming in." The African-American woman approaching looked every bit as professional as she had sounded over the phone. Stevie suddenly felt underdressed but reminded herself that she was simply offering a couple of hours a week as a campaign volunteer. "Good to meet you in person," Stevie said, shaking hands.
The old downtown department store had been converted into Daniel Bellardi's campaign headquarters, Stevie was impressed. She halfway expected to find a noisy campaign "sweatshop." Instead, the main floor was a maze of well-dressed volunteers quietly going about their work.
After several minutes of conversation, Eden asked, "How would you like to become involved in Senator Bellardi's campaign? Carolyn tells me you've done some writing. Would you consider helping out in our communications division?" We're initiating a weekly, one-page bulletin from the senator to be delivered by fax and email to several thousand supporters and a similar one to ministers—kind of a prayer letter format.” "Like a magazine ad or a radio spot," Stevie interjected. "Exactly. Grab their attention, hit them hard and fast with the hottest topics, leave them with something to think about. That's what your work is all about, am I correct?" "It's what I do for a living," Stevie replied confidently.
Driving home, the prospect of applying her creativity and writing skills to the senator's campaign seemed like a great honor instead of a task—and it sure beat stuffing envelopes. And with Juanita Dunsmuir slowly but steadily narrowing the gap in the polls, Stevie had to do her part for the sake of her children.
The old downtown department store had been converted into Daniel Bellardi's campaign headquarters, Stevie was impressed. She halfway expected to find a noisy campaign "sweatshop." Instead, the main floor was a maze of well-dressed volunteers quietly going about their work.
After several minutes of conversation, Eden asked, "How would you like to become involved in Senator Bellardi's campaign? Carolyn tells me you've done some writing. Would you consider helping out in our communications division?" We're initiating a weekly, one-page bulletin from the senator to be delivered by fax and email to several thousand supporters and a similar one to ministers—kind of a prayer letter format.” "Like a magazine ad or a radio spot," Stevie interjected. "Exactly. Grab their attention, hit them hard and fast with the hottest topics, leave them with something to think about. That's what your work is all about, am I correct?" "It's what I do for a living," Stevie replied confidently.
Driving home, the prospect of applying her creativity and writing skills to the senator's campaign seemed like a great honor instead of a task—and it sure beat stuffing envelopes. And with Juanita Dunsmuir slowly but steadily narrowing the gap in the polls, Stevie had to do her part for the sake of her children.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)