Captured

"Captured" the news said.  I am grateful that the young nineteen year old was captured and not killed.      I am extremely grateful that the law enforcement officials were successful, and I pray they rest well tonight.

It occurs to me that this is not the first time this young man was "captured."  Some time in his short life his spirit was captured by something destructive and sinister.  I don't know if it was the influence of an older brother, a faction of his religion, mistreatment at the hands of society...I do not know.  I know that he must be held accountable for the deaths of an eight year old and three people in the prime of their lives.  A young man lies in the hospital having lost both his legs.  Others are hospitalized with serious injuries sustained at the hands of this young man and his brother.  What "captured" their spirits that caused them to think that these actions were acceptable?  I do not know.

What I do know is I will continue to pray for this boy.  I know he is injured.  It seems that he has had little rest or food this day.  He has lost his older brother.  I understand that these circumstances are consequences of choices he made.  Who of us hasnot suffered consequences for our poor choices?  Most of our spirits have not been captured by forces that would cause us to kill and maim others, if often we might be satisfied to let others do the dirty work for us.  Some of us might even have hoped that  police would kill this boy, and feel justified in believing that is what he deserved.

So, while this world would be much better if this boy and his brother had been "captured" by the Jesus story...not the bastardized version so many of us live...but the real Jesus story...than whatever it is that had its grip on them, I know they are children of God.  I will pray that this boy will survive in order to be recaptured....by the grace and forgiveness of a God who loves him every bit as much as He loves all those who were killed, all those wounded, all those law enforcement officials, and all of us who watched with both enthusiasm and unease the unfolding of the events this day.

For today, at the end of this long day where we were captured by unfolding events, I wish you a spirit  of love and forgiveness and I wish you

Blessings