Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Resting Place - A Poem Honoring My Dad by Garrick Pang
On June 1, 2010, the day after Memorial Day, I went to visit my father's grave. As I sat there, I was moved to compose a poem. In it, I hope you find encouragement, comfort & peace.
The Resting Place by Garrick Pang
I went to see your resting place you have here on this earth
To hear the stories that you tell of life, of death & birth.
You shared so many tales to us, while you were still alive
Of how to dream, of how to care and do our best to thrive.
I went to see if you could give a bit more of advice
'Cause life is tough, at times is hard, and even filled with strife.
So I escaped my busy day to come and pay a visit
To sit and chat and spend some time and just to see ‘How is it?’
When I arrived I found a cross and flag placed there with care
I breathed a sigh, looked and listened but found you were not there.
You were not there to speak to me or teach with words profound
It made me sad, and even mad that you were not around.
So as I waited in the silence, getting ready to depart
I heard a voice from deep within, a place down in my heart.
I heard you speaking to my soul, in a voice as clear as day
To hear the lessons taught in life to find the better way.
For all the wisdom for which I came this day to somehow gain
Had all been given in times before through laughter, joy and pain.
I cannot any longer draw from wisdom straight from you,
But all you’d given throughout my life is now ringing so true.
So the voice now says, just stop and listen in your quiet time of rest,
And you will hear his voice so clear encouragement for the best.
So now I leave the place of rest to get back to my hurry,
But I’m now filled with peace and hope and oddly without worry.
For you did not live your life in vain as I search for what I’ve been given,
You say that life is worth each breath, it’s all in how you’re living.
So thank you dad for all you are, the man you’ll always be.
You gave me life and health and peace, because of you…I’m me.
Remembering my Dad, Ted S. Y. Pang (May 2, 1929 - May 3, 2009)
gapang777@gmail.com - 206.229.3355
Copyright © 2010. Garrick J. Pang. All Rights Reserved.
On June 1, 2010, the day after Memorial Day, I went to visit my father's grave. As I sat there, I was moved to compose a poem. In it, I hope you find encouragement, comfort & peace.
The Resting Place by Garrick Pang
I went to see your resting place you have here on this earth
To hear the stories that you tell of life, of death & birth.
You shared so many tales to us, while you were still alive
Of how to dream, of how to care and do our best to thrive.
I went to see if you could give a bit more of advice
'Cause life is tough, at times is hard, and even filled with strife.
So I escaped my busy day to come and pay a visit
To sit and chat and spend some time and just to see ‘How is it?’
When I arrived I found a cross and flag placed there with care
I breathed a sigh, looked and listened but found you were not there.
You were not there to speak to me or teach with words profound
It made me sad, and even mad that you were not around.
So as I waited in the silence, getting ready to depart
I heard a voice from deep within, a place down in my heart.
I heard you speaking to my soul, in a voice as clear as day
To hear the lessons taught in life to find the better way.
For all the wisdom for which I came this day to somehow gain
Had all been given in times before through laughter, joy and pain.
I cannot any longer draw from wisdom straight from you,
But all you’d given throughout my life is now ringing so true.
So the voice now says, just stop and listen in your quiet time of rest,
And you will hear his voice so clear encouragement for the best.
So now I leave the place of rest to get back to my hurry,
But I’m now filled with peace and hope and oddly without worry.
For you did not live your life in vain as I search for what I’ve been given,
You say that life is worth each breath, it’s all in how you’re living.
So thank you dad for all you are, the man you’ll always be.
You gave me life and health and peace, because of you…I’m me.
Remembering my Dad, Ted S. Y. Pang (May 2, 1929 - May 3, 2009)
gapang777@gmail.com - 206.229.3355
Copyright © 2010. Garrick J. Pang. All Rights Reserved.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Don't Miss Christmas
Don’t Miss Christmas
By Pastor Garrick Pang
You might be thinking, how can I miss Christmas? After all, its the biggest holiday of the year. Once upon a time, retailers started advertising for Christmas after Thanksgiving. Then it was a few weeks before Thanksgiving so we could get a jump on the shopping. Now it seems that we start seeing ads and displays in stores starting in July!
So, you ask, can we miss Christmas? While it may be tough to miss the day itself, it is very possible that we miss out on the meaning and significance of Christmas. After all, what is Christmas? Is it just yet another “holiday” where we get a day off work? Is it a time when we get to give and receive gifts? Is it a time where we O.D. on Christmas carols and songs on the radio, elevators and grocery stores? Is it a time when we go to parties & celebrations so that every week of the month is jam packed with activities? Is it the time where we wait in line for hours to have our children all upset when it comes time to sit on Santa’s lap for a photo? While it may be all these things, Christmas (the true Christmas) can get lost in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the “activities” of Christmas so that we miss what Christmas is really all about.
So am I suggesting that we do away with all these other activities? I don’t think we need to do that, but perhaps we need to spend some time re-focusing our Christmas this year. When Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33), He was encouraging us not to get caught up chasing after the things that will not last. What you eat, what you drink, what you wear. And yet ironically, this seems to be most of our focus during Christmastime!
But Jesus is NOT a party pooper (remember his first miracle – it was a wedding feast where he turned water into wine!) – on the contrary, Jesus loves a great party – but He doesn’t want the party to be focused on the wrong things. Seek first His kingdom, and the rest of the “stuff” gains perspective. We don’t have to flush away all the rest of the celebrations of the season (although there are some things that we perhaps should consider doing without – I’ll let you decided what those things are), we need simply to get perspective.
Perhaps the best message from our culture on what Christmas is really all about can be found on the children’s cartoon, Charlie Brown Christmas (which will be aired on ABC at 8:00 PM (7 Central) on Tuesday, December 8th and 15th), where Linus quotes from Luke 2:8-14 in response to Charlie Brown’s exclamation, “ISN’T THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT!!??”
My hope and prayer for you and your family is that you will not miss Christmas this year and that you will find its true meaning in the person of Jesus Christ.
Peace,
Garrick
Garrick is the Interim Senior Pastor of Delta Community Baptist Church in Everett, Washington
By Pastor Garrick Pang
You might be thinking, how can I miss Christmas? After all, its the biggest holiday of the year. Once upon a time, retailers started advertising for Christmas after Thanksgiving. Then it was a few weeks before Thanksgiving so we could get a jump on the shopping. Now it seems that we start seeing ads and displays in stores starting in July!
So, you ask, can we miss Christmas? While it may be tough to miss the day itself, it is very possible that we miss out on the meaning and significance of Christmas. After all, what is Christmas? Is it just yet another “holiday” where we get a day off work? Is it a time when we get to give and receive gifts? Is it a time where we O.D. on Christmas carols and songs on the radio, elevators and grocery stores? Is it a time when we go to parties & celebrations so that every week of the month is jam packed with activities? Is it the time where we wait in line for hours to have our children all upset when it comes time to sit on Santa’s lap for a photo? While it may be all these things, Christmas (the true Christmas) can get lost in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the “activities” of Christmas so that we miss what Christmas is really all about.
So am I suggesting that we do away with all these other activities? I don’t think we need to do that, but perhaps we need to spend some time re-focusing our Christmas this year. When Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33), He was encouraging us not to get caught up chasing after the things that will not last. What you eat, what you drink, what you wear. And yet ironically, this seems to be most of our focus during Christmastime!
But Jesus is NOT a party pooper (remember his first miracle – it was a wedding feast where he turned water into wine!) – on the contrary, Jesus loves a great party – but He doesn’t want the party to be focused on the wrong things. Seek first His kingdom, and the rest of the “stuff” gains perspective. We don’t have to flush away all the rest of the celebrations of the season (although there are some things that we perhaps should consider doing without – I’ll let you decided what those things are), we need simply to get perspective.
Perhaps the best message from our culture on what Christmas is really all about can be found on the children’s cartoon, Charlie Brown Christmas (which will be aired on ABC at 8:00 PM (7 Central) on Tuesday, December 8th and 15th), where Linus quotes from Luke 2:8-14 in response to Charlie Brown’s exclamation, “ISN’T THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT!!??”
My hope and prayer for you and your family is that you will not miss Christmas this year and that you will find its true meaning in the person of Jesus Christ.
Peace,
Garrick
Garrick is the Interim Senior Pastor of Delta Community Baptist Church in Everett, Washington
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
God Does Answer Prayer!
God Answers Prayer!
Thank you so very much for praying for me, my family and the Union Gospel Mission selection committee. I went through the day today feeling a wonderful and perfect peace. It was very clear to me that I personally as well as the process were being undergirded by much prayer.
The UGM president selection committee met earlier today and came up with their list of three final candidates. The person leading the search (headhunter) sent me an email midday saying that I’d get a call later in the day with “an update”.
Early this evening (Tuesday) I got the call. He indicated that much thought and prayer had gone into their decision on the three finalists. One member of the committee even watched the interview DVD’s multiple times just to be sure he had a good feel for the candidates. The decision had been made and I was informed that I was not one of the three. While I was very disappointed, I was overwhelmed by that feeling I mentioned earlier, “perfect peace”.
A decade or so ago, I think a similar feeling might have been felt, but that would have been more what I would consider emotional detachment. But today it was different. Today, I felt sad – I grieved that I would not be given the opportunity to lead this wonderful organization and amazing people, that I would not have the chance to share my vision and dreams for the future of region wide ministry, partnerships and collaboration. I was grieved that, while I could still engage with this work at some level, it would not ultimately be in the way or to the depth that I built up hopes to one day participate. Today, I was sad. But today, I was also glad. I was so grateful that so many people prayed and lifted this decision and this ministry before the throne of the Most High and that the committee had also prayed and came to a decision which led to this direct answer to prayer.
The answer may not have come as I might have hoped, but ultimately the answer was most certainly in my favor. There are things unseen and things unknown to me that only our Lord knows – reasons that I may never fully know or understand as to why things happen (or don’t happen) the way they do. I trust in the sovereignty of our Lord.
Because this process, and especially the day today< was covered and bathed in so much prayer, I feel 100% confident that no matter how disappointed I may feel, God’s will was done today.
So friends, please rejoice with me today. Rejoice in the faithfulness of our Lord. Rejoice in His answers to prayer (“no” is as much of an answer as “yes”, just a bit harder to swallow sometimes). Rejoice that the incredible ministry of the Seattle Union Gospel Mission is one step closer to finding their new leader. And rejoice with me that God is still God and He knows my future and He has a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11-12).
Rejoice with me that my emotions are intact, my sadness is appropriate, my joy is real, and my peace is perfect and beyond understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). This is the REAL stuff that brings the Word of God alive for me. It’s not theory or theology, it’s LIFE!
Thank you for being an integral and important part of the process with the Union Gospel Mission. When they announce their new president in the not too distant future, you can smile and say, “Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be a part of that decision process.”
Thank you for journeying with me which in turn allowed me the privilege of articulating these reflections here that have in turn blessed me so very much.
Your fellow sojourner,
Garrick
Thank you so very much for praying for me, my family and the Union Gospel Mission selection committee. I went through the day today feeling a wonderful and perfect peace. It was very clear to me that I personally as well as the process were being undergirded by much prayer.
The UGM president selection committee met earlier today and came up with their list of three final candidates. The person leading the search (headhunter) sent me an email midday saying that I’d get a call later in the day with “an update”.
Early this evening (Tuesday) I got the call. He indicated that much thought and prayer had gone into their decision on the three finalists. One member of the committee even watched the interview DVD’s multiple times just to be sure he had a good feel for the candidates. The decision had been made and I was informed that I was not one of the three. While I was very disappointed, I was overwhelmed by that feeling I mentioned earlier, “perfect peace”.
A decade or so ago, I think a similar feeling might have been felt, but that would have been more what I would consider emotional detachment. But today it was different. Today, I felt sad – I grieved that I would not be given the opportunity to lead this wonderful organization and amazing people, that I would not have the chance to share my vision and dreams for the future of region wide ministry, partnerships and collaboration. I was grieved that, while I could still engage with this work at some level, it would not ultimately be in the way or to the depth that I built up hopes to one day participate. Today, I was sad. But today, I was also glad. I was so grateful that so many people prayed and lifted this decision and this ministry before the throne of the Most High and that the committee had also prayed and came to a decision which led to this direct answer to prayer.
The answer may not have come as I might have hoped, but ultimately the answer was most certainly in my favor. There are things unseen and things unknown to me that only our Lord knows – reasons that I may never fully know or understand as to why things happen (or don’t happen) the way they do. I trust in the sovereignty of our Lord.
Because this process, and especially the day today< was covered and bathed in so much prayer, I feel 100% confident that no matter how disappointed I may feel, God’s will was done today.
So friends, please rejoice with me today. Rejoice in the faithfulness of our Lord. Rejoice in His answers to prayer (“no” is as much of an answer as “yes”, just a bit harder to swallow sometimes). Rejoice that the incredible ministry of the Seattle Union Gospel Mission is one step closer to finding their new leader. And rejoice with me that God is still God and He knows my future and He has a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11-12).
Rejoice with me that my emotions are intact, my sadness is appropriate, my joy is real, and my peace is perfect and beyond understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). This is the REAL stuff that brings the Word of God alive for me. It’s not theory or theology, it’s LIFE!
Thank you for being an integral and important part of the process with the Union Gospel Mission. When they announce their new president in the not too distant future, you can smile and say, “Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be a part of that decision process.”
Thank you for journeying with me which in turn allowed me the privilege of articulating these reflections here that have in turn blessed me so very much.
Your fellow sojourner,
Garrick
Special Prayer Request - Tuesday, June 2
Greetings Friend,
Here's a big prayer request that I would humbly ask that you might lift up before the throne of Grace and possibly share with your prayer network.
I am down to final 7 candidates for the job of president at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. I believe that God has had his hand in bringing me into this group of 7 “semi-final” pool. I, along with the 6 others from across the country, had recorded interviews a few weeks ago and today, June 2nd, they will narrow the field down to 3 or 4 candidates for in person interviews.
As one of the search committee members put it, "God has already chosen the candidate, it's just up to us to find out who that is!"
I am at peace about whatever the final outcome may be and am doing my best to completely trust the Lord, yet at the same time feel that there is a major battle going on in the Heavenly realms over this position. This is a HUGE and key strategic ministry that has unwaveringly preached the Gospel over its 70+ year history and is well respected in both the Christian and broader communities.
I believe that God has me still in this process for a reason. I will not say that I am God's chosen one for this job, yet I feel very strongly in my spirit about this position and ministry.
Will you please join me in praying for this selection committee as they meet today (sorry, I don’t know the time of day for the meeting). Please pray for God's will in this. Specifically, my personal hope and prayer is that I would get a face-to-face interview so I can clearly articulate what God has placed on my heart for this ministry.
I hope this all makes sense.
Thank you!
Garrick
PS – in case you did not hear, my dad died very suddenly from a massive heart attack about a month ago on May 3. He is with the Lord now, but I sure miss him. Thanks for your prayers as our family navigates these rough & uncharted waters - especially pray for my mom who was almost never apart from my dad. Her name is Shirley, she is really struggling right now.
Here's a big prayer request that I would humbly ask that you might lift up before the throne of Grace and possibly share with your prayer network.
I am down to final 7 candidates for the job of president at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. I believe that God has had his hand in bringing me into this group of 7 “semi-final” pool. I, along with the 6 others from across the country, had recorded interviews a few weeks ago and today, June 2nd, they will narrow the field down to 3 or 4 candidates for in person interviews.
As one of the search committee members put it, "God has already chosen the candidate, it's just up to us to find out who that is!"
I am at peace about whatever the final outcome may be and am doing my best to completely trust the Lord, yet at the same time feel that there is a major battle going on in the Heavenly realms over this position. This is a HUGE and key strategic ministry that has unwaveringly preached the Gospel over its 70+ year history and is well respected in both the Christian and broader communities.
I believe that God has me still in this process for a reason. I will not say that I am God's chosen one for this job, yet I feel very strongly in my spirit about this position and ministry.
Will you please join me in praying for this selection committee as they meet today (sorry, I don’t know the time of day for the meeting). Please pray for God's will in this. Specifically, my personal hope and prayer is that I would get a face-to-face interview so I can clearly articulate what God has placed on my heart for this ministry.
I hope this all makes sense.
Thank you!
Garrick
PS – in case you did not hear, my dad died very suddenly from a massive heart attack about a month ago on May 3. He is with the Lord now, but I sure miss him. Thanks for your prayers as our family navigates these rough & uncharted waters - especially pray for my mom who was almost never apart from my dad. Her name is Shirley, she is really struggling right now.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Fitting and Great Tribute to our Veterans (by Todd Green)
Hello Friends,
Back on November 13, I attended a wonderful chapel service at Eastside Christian School. Here's an excerpt from the Veterans' Day Chapel service message delivered by Eastside Christian’s Director of Student Ministries, Todd Green. Eastside is a great school. Let me know if you’re interested in learning more about this great place for kids to learn.
Veteran’s Day Chapel (by Todd Green - Eastside Christian School - 11/13/08)
Our Veteran’s Day chapel is an annual event for us and it is our opportunity to honor the people who have served our country in the military – it’s our way of saying thanks and showing our appreciation for what US soldiers have done for us in the past and continue to do for our world even as we speak. It is also a way for us to think about what is important for us to do in the future.
American veterans have sacrificed for all of us in order to secure our freedom and protect us from harm.
A sacrifice is something of great value that you give up. It’s a choice that you make in order to obtain a greater good. And in the case of Veteran’s it’s not just for themselves – it’s a greater good that’s enjoyed by everyone.
A relative few have made that kind of sacrifice but all of us enjoy the benefits of it.
Throughout history U.S. soldiers have made that sacrifice by putting others before themselves – putting their own careers, and dreams on hold in order to serve our country.
And not only our country. US soldiers have fought, and many have given their lives, for the sake of people they never knew, for people who didn’t speak their language or live like they did, people who never would have a chance to thank them.
In 1961 John F. Kennedy spoke these words that so accurately encapsulate this ideal – He said: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to ensure the survival and success of freedom.”
US soldiers living out this creed is to me is the epitome of courage, it is the height of selflessness, it is the absolute definition of heroism.
That kind of heroism has it’s root in a far deeper place than just the human heart. In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Whenever I think of the Veterans of this country I am unable to ignore the link between what they’ve done for our nation and what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross. The sacrifice made by these men and women is a vivid reflection of what Jesus did for each and every one of us. The only difference is that to Him, none of us were strangers – far from it - He went to that hill knowing every fragment of our sinfulness – and He poured out His life for each of us anyway. That is courage, that is sacrifice, THAT is heroism.
So today we give glory to God, but we also honor you Veteran’s today. The entire nation owes you a debt that we can never repay. May God bless you and your families and may these young people fully grasp the example that you have set before them.
Change of Perspective - A Robbery Story (or two)
This was first posted on my "Facebook" notes. It was a perspective changing event that happened on Veterans' Day Monday this year.
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Three weeks later, while preaching at a church up in Everett, my car window was smashed and my brother's computer and bag were stolen from my car. At the very moment that I was informed of the break-in, I was shaking hands with a gentleman from the church whose Leukemia had just returned after having been in remission for several years. For obvious reason anything stolen from the vehicle and damaged property paled in significance to what this gentleman had shared with me.
Sad but true - Robbery in broad daylight at Bellevue Square Mall.
We went to the Mall on Monday, November 10th to exchange a pair of shoes and visit the Apple Store. After all this had been done, we went to the center of the mall to get an Orange Julius to share between my boys and their friend. The three of them were sitting by the elevator on the new comfy chairs recently added to Bel Square as Anna and I, along with our baby went to order the drink. What happened next was pretty much the last thing we would have expected...
We heard some kids yelling and screaming and out of the corner of my eye, I saw OUR boys running down the mall towards the Bon Marche. In an instant, I realized what had happened, that someone had stolen something from the boys! Instinct kicked in and I immediately gave chase (with computer backpack on) and saw the thief running down the mall. When he came toward the entrance to the Bon, he went left behind the escalator and was cornered. I came from the right and he made a dash for the Bon entrance. I took a lunge at him and had a hand on him, but missed and he got by me into the Bon and down the stairs.
I gave chase down the stairs (and let go of the backpack mid-stairs) and chased him out the east door of the mall. He took off around to the south past Red Robin and I continued the chase into the lower parking garage. He continued running through the garage and unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) my shoe started coming off so I slowed down and walked. I picked up again after a few seconds and when I rounded the corner on NE 4th by Penny’s and saw him further up the sidewalk walking. I flagged down a motorist and she gave me a ride in the car to chase him. I think he must have ducked into the bushes so we lost sight him.
We rounded the corner of 100th and did not see any sign of him. We turned into the SW parking garage and looked around but to no avail. Around about that time, the police arrived on the scene and swarmed all over the perimeter of the mall.
An interesting twist, I learned later was that when I began my pursuit in the mall, another young man took off in case AFTER ME! This according to what my family saw. Of course this concerned them, thinking – what if these guys are armed and I actually ended up in a physical altercation!?!?
That’s why I said “perhaps fortunately” I was not able to catch him.
This guy that took off after me, it turns out had earlier asked my son if he could borrow his cell phone to make a call. My son was very smart – he asked him, why not just go over to guest services and use their phone? They guy simply said he didn’t want to. So my son did not give him his phone, but gave his Bluetooth earpiece and dialed the number for the guy. Of course later, the number was still on my son’s phone so we were able to give that number to the police if in fact this young person was an accomplice involved in the robbery.
Statements were given reports filed and we’re waiting to hear if anything happens.
From this experience, I learned a great deal of things. First, people are more important that property. In the future, I don’t know if I would give chase in such a situation. What if I had caught him? What if he had a gun or a knife? It’s possible that I would not be typing this right now had that been the case.
Secondly, it’s amazing how relax we can get in our sense of safety and security – again, this was just a “thing”, but when something like this happens, it robs you of your sense of security and peace of mind. It’s a good reminder that Bellevue is becoming a “bigger city” and with that comes more of these types of incidents. We must always be aware and far more careful and wise.
Finally, last night as Anna and I prayed before bed, we asked the Lord for His protection and care and thanked him for watching over us during the trauma of that day. We also prayed that our boys’ hearts would be guarded from becoming hardened and especially against becoming racist. I don’t want our boys to judge people because of the color of their skin just because these assailants were “people of color”. We also prayed for the young man who committed the crime. While I was still very angry with him for what he had stolen from us (not just property), I prayed for God to have mercy on him and I prayed that God help me not to have a hardened heart.
From this, there are huge opportunities to learn and grow and to be thankful for God’s care, protection and provision in our lives.
So if you’ve read this, my hope is that you will be careful, wise and are able to learn from the experiences that we’ve had forced upon us.
Garrick
We heard some kids yelling and screaming and out of the corner of my eye, I saw OUR boys running down the mall towards the Bon Marche. In an instant, I realized what had happened, that someone had stolen something from the boys! Instinct kicked in and I immediately gave chase (with computer backpack on) and saw the thief running down the mall. When he came toward the entrance to the Bon, he went left behind the escalator and was cornered. I came from the right and he made a dash for the Bon entrance. I took a lunge at him and had a hand on him, but missed and he got by me into the Bon and down the stairs.
I gave chase down the stairs (and let go of the backpack mid-stairs) and chased him out the east door of the mall. He took off around to the south past Red Robin and I continued the chase into the lower parking garage. He continued running through the garage and unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) my shoe started coming off so I slowed down and walked. I picked up again after a few seconds and when I rounded the corner on NE 4th by Penny’s and saw him further up the sidewalk walking. I flagged down a motorist and she gave me a ride in the car to chase him. I think he must have ducked into the bushes so we lost sight him.
We rounded the corner of 100th and did not see any sign of him. We turned into the SW parking garage and looked around but to no avail. Around about that time, the police arrived on the scene and swarmed all over the perimeter of the mall.
An interesting twist, I learned later was that when I began my pursuit in the mall, another young man took off in case AFTER ME! This according to what my family saw. Of course this concerned them, thinking – what if these guys are armed and I actually ended up in a physical altercation!?!?
That’s why I said “perhaps fortunately” I was not able to catch him.
This guy that took off after me, it turns out had earlier asked my son if he could borrow his cell phone to make a call. My son was very smart – he asked him, why not just go over to guest services and use their phone? They guy simply said he didn’t want to. So my son did not give him his phone, but gave his Bluetooth earpiece and dialed the number for the guy. Of course later, the number was still on my son’s phone so we were able to give that number to the police if in fact this young person was an accomplice involved in the robbery.
Statements were given reports filed and we’re waiting to hear if anything happens.
From this experience, I learned a great deal of things. First, people are more important that property. In the future, I don’t know if I would give chase in such a situation. What if I had caught him? What if he had a gun or a knife? It’s possible that I would not be typing this right now had that been the case.
Secondly, it’s amazing how relax we can get in our sense of safety and security – again, this was just a “thing”, but when something like this happens, it robs you of your sense of security and peace of mind. It’s a good reminder that Bellevue is becoming a “bigger city” and with that comes more of these types of incidents. We must always be aware and far more careful and wise.
Finally, last night as Anna and I prayed before bed, we asked the Lord for His protection and care and thanked him for watching over us during the trauma of that day. We also prayed that our boys’ hearts would be guarded from becoming hardened and especially against becoming racist. I don’t want our boys to judge people because of the color of their skin just because these assailants were “people of color”. We also prayed for the young man who committed the crime. While I was still very angry with him for what he had stolen from us (not just property), I prayed for God to have mercy on him and I prayed that God help me not to have a hardened heart.
From this, there are huge opportunities to learn and grow and to be thankful for God’s care, protection and provision in our lives.
So if you’ve read this, my hope is that you will be careful, wise and are able to learn from the experiences that we’ve had forced upon us.
Garrick
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Three weeks later, while preaching at a church up in Everett, my car window was smashed and my brother's computer and bag were stolen from my car. At the very moment that I was informed of the break-in, I was shaking hands with a gentleman from the church whose Leukemia had just returned after having been in remission for several years. For obvious reason anything stolen from the vehicle and damaged property paled in significance to what this gentleman had shared with me.
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