A pretty amazing story from NPR: A Victim Treats His Mugger Right
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.”
Remind you of anything? I don’t know if Julio Diaz is a follower of Jesus or not, but the Lord approved of his actions. See Matthew 5:38–40
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ” But I tell you, “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.”
The story has a great ending I won’t spoil for you: read the whole thing
(found via kottke
I was held up at gunpoint and pistol-whipped at 16 years of age, while on the job for my first real employer (Denny’s as a dishwasher). It took years for me to get over the fear of being mugged. Living beyond fear and transcending the need for self-preservation seems like such huge components to living in the Way of Jesus.
Wow. I can only imagine how freaked out I would be now if I was held up at gunpoint, much less at the tender age of 16.
I don’t know if I could of thought to do that. I know people do things in God’s name under extraordinary circumstance like the woman who was “held” hostage by someone who shot up a court house years back. Have to be in the word everyday…