Just after midnight on Guy Fawkes night someone drove into the George St entrance of St John’s Anglican church and deliberately set fire to one of the Plunket nurse’s cars. He didn’t even stay to watch the fire – leaving once it was fully in flames.
The result of these actions affects many people. Firstly, there was the call to the Fire Brigade who were already very busy that night. Fortunately, this is a concrete church, so there was nothing but a scorch mark on the building, but the church still smells foul from burnt rubber and plastic. The person most affected is the car owner who now has to manage without the car until the insurance process has resolved to allow purchase of a replacement.
The question everyone asks is “Why? What could the offender be hoping to gain?” Because he appears to have left just as the fire began to blaze, we can deduce that he was not motivated by the appeal of fire or flames. One can only imagine that this was someone needing to prove themselves to someone(s).
For the local businesses, for us at St John’s church and especially for the person whose car has been so mindlessly yet wilfully destroyed, it is tempting to heap blame, to categorise the perpetrator with any number of derogatory qualities, and to want to seek vengeance.
Tempting indeed! But does it serve us well? Firstly, the desire for vengeance expends energy, adding stress in an already stressful situation. Secondly, wanting revenge requires us to “other” the offender-that is, to see him only in only in the light of the criminal actions, not as a person with needs and feelings.
I am not saying offenders should not face consequences for their actions, because they certainly should. But I am reminded that I belong to a community and come from a family that has taught me what love looks like and feels like. I do not need to prove myself to be accepted. All through my growing up years, when my character was being shaped, I heard and experienced God’s love for me though the actions of family and my church community. I have been given that priceless gift, so I will not judge or blame people who have not experienced the same.
Does this sound smug? It would be if the love and community that I experienced wasn’t waiting for anyone who wants it. Any of the churches in Te Awamutu will offer you the Christian community that I experienced. They will also point you to the forgiveness of Jesus, and help you to understand how forgiveness received for your wrongs, equips you to offer it to others.
So instead of holding the person who set this car on fire in contempt, I urge you to imagine how ghastly it must be to have to earn approval in such a way-and pray for him and those he is trying to impress. And if this is too tough for you on your own, head to a church near you and ask them to pray with you and for you.
