READ: JOHN 8: 1-11
They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up and said, “All right stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones.” (V. 7)
Bus after bus arrived slowly discharging their passengers and unloading their wheelchairs in front of the offices of a large national provider of nursing and residential care facilities. Three hundred, along with some care givers, had come to protest the lack of quality care being afforded to the less fortunate members of their unique community by corporately managed health care providers. They were determined to occupy the building and totally stop traffic on a major Maryland to Washington, DC artery until the president of the company agreed to meet with their representatives. Prior attempts to meet with corporate officials had been rebuffed and their concerns and grievances were ignored. Building entrances were jammed with yelling and chanting persons in wheelchairs and traffic on the road in front of the building was brought to a complete stop. Panicked corporate officers and irate commuters were jamming the phone lines of elected officials demanding the police immediately remove the demonstrators. Yes indeed, this was a different kind of demonstration requiring extreme patience and care as many of the participants had severe disabilities.
Realizing the political ramifications of their actions, all of the buses from a neighboring cities transit service which had brought the participants, quickly vanished from the area. Slowly we marshaled the personnel and equipment resources we needed to handle the event. This included finding enough para-transit buses to transport the 300 physically disabled demonstrators and their wheelchairs—this was going to be a long day on the beat! Dodging motorized wheelchairs aimed at their feet and legs, officers slowly removed fragile screaming people and their wheelchairs from the building and the highway. Adding to the issues surrounding the safe removal of the participants was the fact that many had disabled their electric wheelchairs. Time after time, the officers slowly and carefully loaded the few para-transit buses we could muster. Additionally, they had to be unloaded at the processing center where officers issued citations and arranged for their transport home.
Just we began to gain control of the situation, a large thunderstorm with heavy lighting and rain swept into the area. Crunch time had arrived with a bang! We needed to get all the demonstrators that remained off the street. They were in immediate danger of being swept into a rapidly rising stream adjacent to the roadway. The dangerous lighting that accompanied the ferocious storm came without interruption. Seeing their path of duty clearly set before them, Officers ignored the lighting and stood in knee deep torrents of water and did not rest until the last demonstrator was safely on a transport bus. Praise God for these officers and for giving them the strength, courage, patience and compassion to bring this “different kind of demonstration” to a safe injury free conclusion. Nothing short of a miracle—God at work!
Jesus was faced with a different kind of demonstration when the Pharisees paraded a woman, they had caught in adultery, before him for judgement. His reaction, laced with love, compassion and forgiveness took the religious leaders, and I am sure the woman who was expecting death, by complete surprise. Standing firmly in the rushing waters of controversy he authorized her stoning by those who were without sin. No stones were hurled, and he sent the woman on her way with instructions to sin no more. An unexpected lifesaving lesson from Jesus for all mankind!
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Who do you call upon when faced with the inevitable unexpected turns in your life?
Jesus, be with me when I am faced with different and unexpected events in my life. Let my response be based upon your example and influence.