hate, but saving what we love.”
- Rose Tico
Another 100 days of being a falsely accused and unjustly
convicted man has passed. 2017 has come and gone. The
hardest and lonliest 100 day period of the year is behind me;
Thanksgiving, my 49 th birthday, Christmas, New Years, and
the release of the newest Star Wars movie.
Our yard has been relatively quiet and cal. The colder
weather has kept most people inside their units. However
an inmate did die after complications from being and
socked by his OCI coworker, and medical needs being left
unchecked.
My federal Appeal is 1069 days old (one month short of 3
years). I continue to try to be purposefully hope filled and
positive. As I contemplated what to relate about the past
100 days, the events and circumstances that were the most
impactful, it is the quote from Rose Tico that has stuck with
me and consumed my thoughts. I am in a battle for my
future. A battle for justice. A battle for truth. A battle for
my physical freedom. A battle for my mental emotional, and
Spiritual victory. A Battle to save what, and whom, I love.
The battle I fight now is not one of just my own victory, but
for the victory of my lost prodigal Kylo.
On 4-22- 18 it will be 9 years since he ventured to the dark
side, choosing to accept material gain and power, in
exchange for his grandmother’s love, affection, and
protection. All he had to agree to do was be deceptive and
stick to her plan in order to be well taken care of (Gen. 27:1-
29) prior to an inheritance coming due (Luke 15:11).
My Federal Appeal is ready to be answered. The result will
be my exoneration (Malachi 3:5). It will be the end of my
physical incarceration (2 kings 25:27-29). It will also signal
the start of a civil court battle. It will be at that time that
my prodigal Absolom’s deception will become clear and his
complicity with the lies of his grandmother and the Tulsa
County District Attorney’s office will become evident to
everyone (Ps. 94:20-22, Prov.28:15;25:5).
While I relish exposing the lies and liars, I love my son and
do not wish to see him become the scape goat (Lev. 16) for
Annie Henderson, Jake Cain, Sara McCamis, Amanda Self,
and Tim Harris. However, there is
Nothing that I can do to help him realize how he has been
used by the DA’s office to betray his Father (Pr. 17:15, 23,
25;18:5) in order to feed his own selfish desire for power,
position, and prestige (2 Sam 15, Luke 15:13).
What I can do though is to continue to prepare myself to win
him back to the cause of Christ, not by fighting what I hate,
but saving whom I love: turning him from the darkness back
to the light (Eph5:8).
There are several notable Biblical figures whom choose to
win through love, not destroying through hate.
David, whose suffering I identify with because of a lying and
deceitful prodigal, petitioned for Absolom’s safety as he was
being brought to justice. He apparently wanted his son to
have an opportunity to return to be restored to his family
(2Sam 18:15).
Esau, upon hearing about his trickster brother’s prodigal
return, choose to win him over through love and forgiveness
(Gen. 32:16, 33:4).
Joseph extended grace and mercy to his jealous and
betraying brothers by allowing his love for God, and his
desire for a unified and restored family, to become a priority
over any hate he may have harbored at one time (Gen.
50:20;45,11).
Jesus even exemplified his desire to have victory over
Satan, not by fighting what was hated, but by saving what
was loved. He chastised his false accusers and reminded
everyone concerned that he was not leading a rebellion to
win the battle, but through loving us enough to save us
(Mt.26:55, Mrk 14:48, Luke 22:22, John 18:10).
While Rose was wise enough to intervene and save Finn for
some greater, yet unknown, purpose, Jesus’ companions
were stopped from saving him, allowing him to make the
ultimate sacrifice. Paul eventually understood what Rose
knew to be true. In Ephesians Paul calls us to come out of
the darkness and into the light, to be a child of light using
our Holy Force inspired gifts to win over others (4:8, 32). I
can relate to Paul’s discourse as my mind envisions Luke
and Rey’s discussions on Ahch-To.
I know that my exoneration is impending. I know that, like
Rey, the truth I am seeking will soon be known to all. Like
Rey, I do not want to see my prodigal Ben Solo/KyloRen
destroyed (2 Sam. 18:15); I want to save him from himself. I
want him to know that he’s forgiven and loved. While justice
for perjury must be served, I will love him through that time
of reckoning. My strong desire is to see this battle won with
him restored, reconciled, and a grateful recipient of God’s
grace: Saved by a Father’s love.
