I posted the other day looking for any information about our farm truck window being smashed out at the local carpool parking lot while I was at a meeting. I’ve since taken the post down as I got what we needed.
And I got much, much more.
Our inbox flooded with help. Thank you for all your kind words and empathy. It was a balm to my soul.
I also got inundated with story after story about how drugs and crime have been impacting people in our area, how neighborhoods of where the individuals stay/hang out are changed, people who are scared to death every day and how families are being torn apart.
Obviously, I have had my head down in the vegetable patch too long. I feel I severely underestimated the level of crime and addiction in our little community.
I’m trying to process it all. I hated I was scared when those men rolled in. I hated feeling powerless over this crime. I hated feeling so upset when it was only a window I lost and so many others have lost much more to these local criminals. And it really, really bothered me they obviously had no fear of consequences.
Human behavior fascinates me and this time was no different. Some people reacted angrily to what happened(an eye for an eye); some people were matter of fact( of course this happened, things are out of control here), and a few victim shamed (“you should have called 911 earlier” “what did you expect parking there ?? “although I had been parking there for 25 years and never had a problem).
There were a lot of different feedback on suggested consequences as well.
But justice and restitution is a personal thing. I feel things intensely, but I also need to move forward. And I’m a Christian woman, so I needed to feel God’s hand in this, too.
I decided to do two things:
- As criminal prosecution was unlikely I would prepare the bill for the damages to the individuals. I may not mail it and if I did I know I probably won’t see a cent, but it is something that makes me feel like I have a little control over the situation.
- I will start a petition for that carpool to be either monitored with cameras, signage indicating risk or closed altogether to parking. Hopefully it won’t happen to anyone else.
I can’t just turn a blind eye and accept this. I believe that leads to anarchy. Little things turn into big things. There is a criminal psychology theory called “broken windows”. Crimes escalate if they are accepted.
Because I also found out the men who hauled in had, just minutes before, almost caused a very serious accident on the highway, and one of the men just got out of jail for a stabbing, also had a gun.
Heres the thing, sometimes we can’t help but react. But I also believe in the hard work of prevention. A lot of good people in our community are working at that: being engaged parents with our children, food security and nutrition (when you eat better you make better choices), child and youth programs, supports for family structure, trauma supports (because hurt people hurt people), neighborhood watches and community police meetings. We need to recognize it when we see it and help rise these preventions up so even when there are criminal behaviors, and addictions, we can still feel reasonably safe.
And what about God’s hand in this ?
Well, my ride was 15 min late that night. This whole encounter would never had happened had he been on time. And I have to believe there was a reason I was meant to experience this. His plan is never to harm me, but to use me in his name.
Maybe the broken window happened to me to prevent a bigger tragedy later on. Maybe someone else’s loved one was spared.
I also have to believe He had his hand on the head of those individuals who did this, as they are his children too. He wants good things for them just like he does me.
I have to believe in the good even when the bad is staring me in the eyes.
That’s faith.
Now, back to the vegetable patch.
Love Jenn xx