‘A Terrible Minute” is how the county district attorney replied to the reporter’s question of how long the altercation took place. Maybe 30 seconds? Not long. A ‘terrible minute’ at most, as a man fought verbally with another then was run over and died.  I don’t know the people, I just saw the headline. The news conference was detailed and tragic and really baffling – and yet tempers do flair.. It’s sad all around. 

The District Attorney, I recognized him and his name, and I remembered meeting him at a police/community coming together event. He was someone another friend had the blessing to WITNESS the gospel to. I was there later when my friend came over to say WOW… the Lord’s Word was shared that day.

ANYWAY – back to the story…

So the tragic event was filmed by security cameras (not shown at the news conference). This District Attorney sounded so non-judgmental to the driver of the fleeting vehicle, really just want him/her to come in to learn what happened. “It’s already tragic, don’t leave it a mystery.”  They want to leave the door open for discussion and forgiveness. The DA spoke kindly asking: “just tell us what’s going on”, and also honestly saying “this is atypical”. On the table would of course be justice, but first on the table is OPENESS. Wouldn’t we all want to know what caused this terrible minute to become tragedy?

We know God DOES know. Pray for all involved. The family prays for justice. We also can pray for them as we pray for honesty within ourselves of communicating with God about our brokenness. 

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A Terrible Minute – we have them too – our brokenness spills.

A Terrible Minute – many times in our stress, our minds race. A terrible minute – tempers flare and wickedness warps out, whether we intend it or not. And yes, even us normally even keeled people have minds ‘that go there’, even if we physically won’t. We too need forgiveness and the Lord’s protection from our own worldly processing. My mind may race but I pray that I have a safety net of Holy Spirit conviction to pull me back. In our own terrible minutes, may we search for You Lord, the Lord of mercy and justice. May we calm down and be repentant.

I have NO IDEA the full or even splintered story from this terrible minute caught on video mentioned by the DA, but I DO know that I heard an olive branch offered by the DA, of ‘just come in to talk’. 

I know that reaching out to the Lord for all parties will bring comfort. As Psalms 41, 42, and 43 remind us all, God is Whom we need to seek… 

Amen 

“so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

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Psalm 41:4-10

 I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”  My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?” When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.

All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying, “A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

But may you have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up, that I may repay them. I know that you are pleased with me,  for my enemy does not triumph over me. Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me.

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Psalm 42 KJV

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

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Psalm 43 NIV

Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation.

Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?

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Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

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