Kentucky Chaplain David Chaltas

He had always been a drinking man; a restless man and a man without a purpose. He cared more about the bottle than he did anything, or so he thought. It was on a Saturday morning. He had stocked up on beer the night before and was ready for the weekend. He had drunk a couple, but that was his usual habit on Saturday and Sunday. He was getting ready to watch the ballgame and noted that he was out of chips. That wouldn’t do, so he climbed in his truck and started down the road. Oh, he knew he shouldn’t drink and drive, but the convenient store was only 3 miles down the road.

The radio was playing loudly and he was really not paying attention. He was digging around in his dashboard for something when he heard and felt a thump. He looked in the mirror and to his horror he had hit a small boy, maybe nine years old that was riding his bicycle close to the curb. What was he to do? Should he stop knowing that he would be arrested for driving under the influence or should he go on since there wasn’t anyone around that witnessed the accident? The little body was moving and besides, it was the kid’s fault. He panicked! He turned around, got on a back road and went straight home. He hid the truck in the garage. He decided to wash it and check for any signs of damage that could be used as evidence, but luckily the vehicle had only a few scraps on the bumper and could be sanded off easily. He did so and stayed hidden away for the rest of the day.

There stirred within his spirit an uneasiness that could not be explained or would not go away. He knew that he had done wrong. He knew that he should have stayed with the little boy until help arrived but he panicked. Now, as he sobered up, the full weight of his sins came crashing down upon his shoulders. He turned on the TV and sure enough, a hit and run had been committed but no one had seen the vehicle and the little boy was in critical condition at the local hospital. The reporter said that the child was unable to speak prior to the accident due to his special needs and doubted if he could tell the color of the vehicle or describe it since he was going in the direction of traffic. The man was off scot-free! Free that is, except for that inner voice condemning his actions and that reproachful voice within his soul that deafened him with its accusations. The Third Party that had been there was convicting him of his transgressions. For he had been a very religious man at one time but had fallen away from God due to divorce and the loss of his family. He had become embittered. He had fallen into the bottle. But he knew. He knew what he had done was wrong and that he had to make amends in some manner.

He went and took a bath, shaved and put on a clean shirt. He went to a neighbor and asked them to drive him to the hospital. All the while he was reserved and answered only when questions were asked. It was a long five-mile drive. When he arrived, he shook hands with the neighbor and went inside the hospital. He asked the receptionist which room the child that had been hit was in and he turned and pushed the button for the elevator. As he waiting on the door to open, he began to wonder what would he do, if anything. Would he go see the child, ask how he was doing, or simply walk away without saying a word.

Just as he got off the elevator, the doctor was talking to the parents as they wept. He overheard the conversation and he knew that the worst had happened. He heard that accusing voice plead, “Dear God, please don’t let the child die!” No; wait, the doctor was telling them that the child had lost a lot of blood and that he needed a transfusion but it was very rare and their stock had been depleted. A negative. Wait a minute! That was his blood type! Without hesitating, he went over and told the doctor that A-(negative) was his blood type and he would be a donor. They took him in immediately and noted that his blood was acceptable; they gave the child a transfusion of the life giving substance. The child would survive. Redemption!

But the man knew that his obligations were not through and mustering all his courage, he went out to the lobby and with tears streaming from his eyes, he told the parents of the child that he was the one that had hit their child and then ran from the scene of the accident. If they could forgive him, he would go to the police with a forgiven soul. The mother and father looked at each other, stood up and embraced the man. The man sobbed bitterly and kept repeating how sorry he was. It was then that the father, an ordained minister, said, “Sir, all I know is that my son was dying and you gave him life. You have offered yourself up for the crime that you have committed. You have shown true compassion for my son. You see sir, my son has been ill for a long time and we were unaware. Had this accident not taken place, he would have died within a month. Now we will have him longer and can celebrate his life each day. For this we are grateful and owe you a debt that we can not pay.”

The man was stunned. Such forgiveness! Such faith! With every fiber in his body the man cried out, “If this is religion, if this is faith, if this is love, I must have it” and fell to his knees! The father acting not only as a minister but a vessel of forgiveness bent down with the mother of the child at his side and prayed the prayer of salvation with the man, that only a few hours ago had almost taken the life of his only son. As the police came, they were amazed to see the nurses and doctors all encircled around a man that had committed a crime, praying with him as one took off the old coat and put on the new.

God commands us to forgive those that transgress against us. God commands us to love our enemies. God holds us accountable for our sins but when we ask for forgiveness and earnestly seek Him, he embraces us with a love that can only be known through Him. As we walk in life, sometimes the thing we dread the most is really the thing we need to embrace. After falling in complete submission to His will by seeking His forgiveness, we can become new creatures and know the love that passeth all understanding. Is it not wondrous that He is in the business of forgiveness rather than in the justice business? Be blessed in the goodness of God’s mercy as I Remain Your Obedient Servant in Christ. The old General