What Ya Gonna Do When They Come For you?

8/12/08

Sabbath a week ago, something happened that really disturbed me. I was getting ready for church when my Jack Russell's began to growl and bark warnings of a threat afoot. I peeked out the window and felt the hair on my neck stand up. A stew of feelings began to boil in my gut, the ingredients included extreme annoyance - bordering on outright anger, fear, curiosity, and some others that I can't put my finger on. My brain told me none of these emotions were valid and that I needed to get a grip. I paced about anxiously, trying to finish getting ready to go, but found it very difficult. I felt so uneasy that I emailed a few friends and said, "please pray me!" Then I swallowed hard and opened the door to face several armed officers who had gathered at the end of my driveway. I found my voice and asked what the problem was. It turned out that my neighbors were having some trouble with some trespassers and the police had showed up to help out. The strange thing was, even though I now knew what was going on and there was nothing to be concerned about, I still felt upset. My stomach was still tight, and I became aware that my jaw was clinched, after I calmed down enough to realize it was hurting. I had a headache and felt drained the rest of the day.

I began to ponder my reaction, slowly I started to understand. I’ve had a couple very unpleasant dealings with police in which I encountered extreme injustice. I will briefly tell you about one, although I'm sure most of you already know.

Years ago, I was in the process of purchasing a well bred pregnant mare from a lady. We had a contract which stated that I should pay $ 100.00 per month. Every month the lady would call and give me a sob story about her financial distress and ask me to send her extra. I obliged and ended up having paid all but 200.00 on the horse in half the time I should have. The foal was due and I did not want to send her the final payment until I had information on the sire of the foal which would be necessary to register it. I faxed her a letter requesting this information and promised her last payment upon receipt. She failed to send the information I needed for about 35 days. The day I got it I called and thanked her and told her I would mail the payment the following day. Well the following day came and with it came a state cop and the lady with three friends and a horse trailer. By the time I got to the barn they were loading my horse and her now, new born foal, onto the trailer. The officer informed me that they were here to repossess my horse because I defaulted on the contract, and that he was going to make sure it got done. Of course this is completely illegal without a court order, even if I had defaulted, but I hadn't. I tried to explain the situation to the officer but he would not listen and refused to wait for someone to get my paperwork, a copy of the contract and canceled checks. I could go on, it was quite a mess, but it ended up with the officer handcuffing me and sticking me his cruiser until they left with my horses. After they were gone my friends arrived with paperwork proving that I was not in default on the contract. The officer apologized and said, "well it looks like they just stole your horse. I tried for two years to receive justice in this case only to end up with more money wasted on lawyers and anger eating away my heart.

As I see my reaction to having police in my front yard, I realize I am still angry, over past injustices.

So many times in our lives we are faced with abuse and injustice. We are injured and robbed by cruel selfish people. I asked someone once, when thinking of a difficult time in my life, "Where was God when this happened?" They replied, "The same place He was when His son hung on the cross dying for our sins." God gives men choices, he doesn't force anyone's will. Some people exercise their freedom of choice by choosing to hurt others. God does promise however that He will be with us in these trials, (Isa. 41: 10-13) and He will bring us through them. He even promises to bring something good from them if we allow Him too. (Romans 8:28) As I look back over my past, and behold the bruises and sorrows, I can see where God has been there for me, how He has brought me through many trails and hardships and I can even see that He has brought something good from them.

Now I must learn to forgive these trespasses and allow God to take the anger, fear, and pain. God has forgiven me so much, how can I refuse to forgive others. Matt 6:12

May God be with you my friends as you seek to forgive those who have wrongfully hurt you and find the peace that comes with it.

Bonnie Morsette ~ 8/12/08