A Strange Person

Jan 113 min read

Shot, set on fire, and left for dead: A peculiar spectacle in an upside-down world.

"For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:"

Job 23:16 KJV

Have you ever had Anger gnawing at the intestines of your heart and the nerves of your soul as an incessant rabid dog or an unrelenting parasite? An anger so black and dark because somebody violated someone or something extremely valuable and so priceless that you can never replace or fix? Perhaps that anger propelled you to consider harming someone else. Maybe you felt so helpless that you sank into a pernicious depression that made you consider self-harm or even sent you into a mental tailspin. You are not alone.

Terry Caffey is a Christian pastor living in Texas. His wife and children were active in church and were loved and respected in the community. Yet one night he had the shock of his life. Four people violated his home altering his life forever. He was startled awake and witnessed a young teen unleashing an assault of bullets into his bedroom shooting him five times and killing his wife. The intruders also killed his two sons and set the house on fire, They didn't want to leave any trace of life. Terry was badly injured, but in his mind, he encouraged himself to live. He wanted to be alive long enough to tell who massacred his family.

Terry crawled out of his home through a window, crawled into the woods, and swam through a river trying to get to his friend's house so he could have shared what happened. It was a journey that took him over an hour, and though he nearly drowned, he was persistent. He had to tell what had happened. His daughter Erin's boyfriend had done this evil, all because

they wanted their daughter to end the relationship with him.

Terry had to go to the hospital. He didn't expect to live, but he did, wishing he could die. In the hospital after fighting for his life, he learned that his daughter was the main instigator of the murders. She wanted her parents dead because they were "being controlling."

Terry felt a myriad of emotions during the experience anger, despair, depression, revenge, guilt, and all feelings in between. At first, He had wanted the death penalty for the perpetrators. Yet not his daughter. How strange. He felt something different for her. He felt broken... until someone gave him a Bible and told him to read the book of Job. He had read it before, but he decided to do so again. I can imagine his heart when he read Job's testimony even under great pressure: Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation:...Job 13:15,16.

He saw many parallels to his experience. Job lost everything and everyone dear to him, but because he didn't give up on God, he was doubly blessed. He slowly began to believe that God had a plan for him during this experience. At first, Terry had wanted "an eye for an eye", and would have gotten it too. Yet God softened his heart. He forgave those who sought to destroy him and petitioned for them so their lives were spared. What a strange person in this world that is so vengeful. What a testimonial of what God can do with a willing heart. Here is a peculiar spectacle in an upside-down world.

"My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." Psalms 73:26 KJV

Prayer: Lord help us to forgive those who deeply hurt us. May we be a peculiar spectacle of your love in this upside-down world. In Jesus name, Amen.

Join me next time, or Subscribe for the early releases