07/10/19 21:23
There has been an item in the news in recent days that I’d like to blog about today. Amber Guyger is a former police officer from Dallas who was convicted of the murder of a man she said she mistook for intruding into her apartment. But what I’d like to blog about today is not about the guilt or innocence of this woman, the plight of people of color in this country, deadly force by police or any of the other hotbed discussions this event raises.
After her trial the brother of the man who was killed Brandt Jean, got up on the stand and expressed his faith in God and his Christian belief that brought many people to tears. He told the courtroom that he didn’t bear Amber Guyger any ill will and wished that she would turn her life over to Christ. He forgave her because that is what his faith in Christ told him he should do and that even wished her wellness and happiness in her own life. Then in an act that stunned many people even further, he then asked if he could give her a hug which he did. It was a highly emotional moment and to me demonstrated the depth of this man’s faith and the power of forgiveness all flowing from Christ.
But… in the days after this extraordinary act, everyone seemed to have an opinion on whether this was something he should have done or if it was something they could have done. I even saw an article talking about how people of color because of this and other actions taken by families of victims, are expected to forgive no matter what.
My take on this young man’s actions is simply this. Why can’t we just accept it at the human level and allow this to serve as a model for us. This is so that we can forgive when it is hard and we can look for the good in others no matter the circumstances. This even should be taken for what it is. We should stop trying to analyze it or put it into a context where it should not be. Sometimes that is how love of neighbor begins- at the root- at the core. We love our neighbor- nothing more, nothing less. That is what Jesus asks of us and that is what we should do. Brandt Jean reminded us all of that fact.