I was not going to weigh in on the matter of cocaine being found at the lower entrance of the White House, but with what I am reading on social media, I now feel compelled to say something.
We know that a small amount of cocaine was found in a bag near a heavily trafficked area of the White House. This basically means it could have been dropped by almost anyone, including a tourist. I know that is not the truth that some want to accept. Forgetting that correlation does not equal causation, they would rather believe it was left there by Hunter Biden, the president's son.
The Secret Service has concluded their investigation stating that they simply cannot determine who dropped the bag. I know this is frustrating to the many on social media who believe they know better, but until they have inside access to the investigation, I think it seems best to conclude there really is nothing to see here.
But, I want to make what I think is a more central point. I spent 38 years as a pastor and during that time in ministry, I encountered people addicted to alcohol and drugs of various kinds. They would come to see me in confidence because they had a problem, they knew it, and wanted help. The task in front of me was to do what I could to assist them in getting professional counseling, to go to Alcoholics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery or any rehabilitation program; and to do what I could to come alongside them to help them in their time of need. I did not call the police to report them because that was not what they needed. Christ-like compassion demanded that I assist them in their challenges.
Let's assume for the moment that it is true the cocaine belonged to Hunter Biden. If true, what that means is he has relapsed back into his addiction and needs help. No parent wants to see this happen to their child. As a parent of adult children, I empathize with Joe and Jill Biden. I am sure they pray for Hunter every day as I would pray for one of my children if they suffered from an addiction; and after their recovery I would continue to pray they never relapse. Are we more interested that Hunter get help or that he be arrested and publicly shamed?
But let's say it wasn't Hunter's cocaine. That cocaine belonged to somebody-- somebody who has a problem. This is a person who needs help. One of the things I hope comes from this is that whoever dropped the cocaine realizes that it belonged to them and what a lucky break it was they weren't caught with it on government property. I hope that this event making the news will be dramatic enough for them to seek the help they need. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this were the moment that brought someone to the place finally to do what was necessary to be freed from the prison of their addiction?
One of the sad things that happens when one's politics becomes a religion is that such persons find themselves unable to generate compassion and concern for those whose politics differ from theirs. They are much less concerned with that person who needs help and are more interested in a gotcha moment that scores political points demonstrating the nefarious values of the other side.-- "Look! Here's a bag of cocaine found in the White House and they are covering it up! That proves they are bad!"
These are people so politically obsessed with turning every molehill into a mountain that they can't see the forest for the trees as to what is really important. They are reminiscent of the Pharisees who were accused by Jesus of straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel (Matthew 23:24).
I do not know who dropped that bag of cocaine in the White House and frankly none of us does. But one thing I can tell you is that since the news broke, I have been praying for that person in the hope they will find the help they need. Jesus would do the same.
I will end with this. If I ever find myself in that kind of situation, I know one thing. I will need the love and help of my family and friends. No one can overcome addiction without a community of support; and if I ever need others in that way, at least now I know whom not to count on.
4 comments:
Amen. It always saddens me that there is more interest in scandal than coming along side someone in need.
Spot On! Couldn’t have come at a better time for me in my life. I’ve been accused, abused, abandoned, beaten, broken, jailed, drugged and abused against my will in psychiatric facilities, mis diagnosed, mis drugged, labeled, judged, publicly and privately humiliated and traumatized. I think GOD wants s to get all the facts we have before making a move…when we don’t get the facts, we harm ourselves and others…painfully too!
Anon,
I am very sorry to hear of your troubles. I hope you have have some compassionate and understanding people in your life to journey beside you.
Cocaine kills. I know this because cocaine killed our son. It was laced with fentanyl so one could say the cocaine didn't kill him but that is nit picking. Cocaine led to his death. It was traumatic for our family four years ago and and some of us may never recover. The Biden's have lost one son. That a person from the opposite political party would point fingers gleefully at Hunter's relapse, if it in fact is a relapse, is cruel reprehensible and I would even go so far as to say it is a sin against Jesus himself. Haven't the Biden's been through enough losing one son and the constant worry about the other one who is an addict? Is there no humanity left in this country?
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