My jaw dropped when I read this story ..
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife."He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"So there's the dinner which Diaz had the kid back for his wallet to pay for and the "purchase" of the knife that the kid was using for $20. And perhaps 4 - 5 more people did not get mugged in the Bronx that night because of that.Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.
Reminds you of anything? How about this short (but extremely difficult) passage from the Sermon on the Mount?
"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."Going back to the story above - no preaching, no praying, no laying on of hands (none was reported anyway) but I think Jesus was probably glorified and the Gospel proclaimed more in this little incident than in all the sermons and evangelistic rallies that we can hold in a year.
The story also didn't mention the ethnicity of the would-be mugger. What if he was black? Or a Haitian? Contextualise it a bit and think .. what if the protagonist was an Indonesian? Or a Bangladeshi? Or a Chinese? Or an ethnic Indian? Do we live out the irresistible revolution of hope?
Perhaps one approach by the Crime Prevention Foundation is for all of us to learn how to be nice to each other, even if the people we're being nice to are our victimisers. They might actually be more the victim than we imagine?
If you liked this post, consider buying me some coffee. Suggested price is $1.00 for a cup and $10.00 for a 1 lbs bag (personally I am a big fan of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe).
Categories: Integral Mission
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Comments (5)
Steve F. said:
not if they stab you before robbing you
Posted on April 6, 2008 12:12 PM
Amin said:
Good, smart, practical, effective and efficient psychology. Allah knows what he created and in the Sermon on the Mount there is hardnosed wisdom if one has ears to hear.
If the police or society treat criminals in an inhumane, alienating and punishing manner, the correct task of reforming them becomes all the more difficult.
Same for the religious police and religious courts. The marginalisation, exclusion, or humiliation of those who do wrong is psychological unsound and poor human resource management and counter productive to the injunction to creating a just caring society. A lot of Muslims do not have any clue as to the finer aspects of their religion, or they are just bad Muslims or HP6 Muslims in name only.
Posted on April 6, 2008 12:45 PM
Bob K said:
Wouldn't the stabbing be pre-destined then? ;)
Posted on April 6, 2008 4:11 PM
Bob K said:
Amin,
Kalau setakat psychology, then tak ikhlas lah. But if we truly are submissive to God, then we ought to be open to God for a change in our hearts and mind, no?
Thanks for you input. Gives some additional thoughts to chew upon.
Posted on April 6, 2008 5:41 PM
Steve F. said:
I do differentiate predestination from foreknowledge :P
Knowing that it's gonna happen is different from willing it to happen.
Posted on April 7, 2008 11:53 AM