She was in handcuffs when she came into the meeting yesterday. It’s so true, what my Lily said the other day. We all, like sheep have gone astray. . .and it’s time to pay the Piper, as they say. A couple of officers of the Law brought her over to say her goodbye’s, before her arraignment in court. Without her hands free, she wasn’t able to do anything but let the rest of us hold her and Love her. My Lily and a few of the perp’s closet friends, were whispering something into her little Dumbo ears. She was weeping.
“Know, little Desperado, that the Lord is God of the Universe. He made you for Himself and your life is totally in His hands. You have broken the law, but His Law of Love is the final Judge. . .and every moment of your life, every decision that you have made, or others have made for you. . .all of it in its entirety, will work together for your Good. You will know that He has Loved you, for as long as He has existed. He has loved you with an Everlasting Love.”
A few months ago, my son Ben and his friends rented a ‘fun’ bus, as he put it, to take them to a concert downtown and bring them home safely afterwards. We had so many people going to court today that we rented one too. We called ours the ‘Joy’ bus. Every Lily who’s wool had lost it’s Beautiful fragrance, every Dumbo sheep that used to be earthbound, every eagle that could only see his sin and guilt and condemnation… all of them were on the bus. The sailors navigated for us and the fireman turned on the sirens so we could get there in time. And yes. . .we each had a glass of His Best Wine and we were getting High. We sang all the way there.
“The Lord is my Light and my Salvation. Whom then shall I fear. Whom then shall I fear. The Lord is the Strength of my life, the Lord is the Strength of my life. Of whom then, shall I be afraid? Since He is for me, who or what can be against me? Neither death nor life, nor powers or anything present, or anything to come. . .shall be able to separate the sheep from the Love of God.”
We were the first ones to arrive at the courtroom. We filled up most of the seats. I recognized the others that were there. . .others who stood trial themselves, in this very courtroom. Little black sheep whose fleece was now, as white as snow. And everywhere the Shepherd went they all were sure to go. The officers escorted the little Desperado into the courtroom.
She was in shackles. I remembered my own trial. . . I was so helpless when they brought me in. I couldn’t move my hands or arms to help myself. I couldn’t walk a straight line. My mouth was shut. There wasn’t anything left to say. Nothing good about myself to cop a plea. I was at the mercy of the court. I am teary eyed as I say this. Just as was true for all of the sheep in the courtroom, she is having a bench trial. The Judge will decide her case.
The prosecutor presented the indictment against her. We would have sat here for hours, listening to the list of the accusations, if hadn’t been interrupted by the defendant’s Attorney. “I call for a mistrial Your Honor!” This little lamb has been freed from all charges. Someone else has been found guilty for the offenses and has been convicted for them in this very Court. He was sentenced by You, Your Honor. It was the death sentence, and the sentence has been carried out. I can Personally attest to it. I was there. . . instead of her. The Supreme Court Judge banged His gavel down and pronounced her, “Not Guilty!’ The courtroom erupted. And her Advocate, Who was also her Substitute, sang this song for all the sheep who were present, or are yet to come. Jesus said. . .
“On this day has salvation and freedom come; because this little lamb was one of Mine. My Father gave her to me. I came to seek her and find her, because she was lost. And the Lilies and the Dumbos, all of the eagles and sailors, the firemen and the newbies. . .all responded with “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound. To save someone like me. Once was lost and now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.”
What a ride home on the Party Bus. It was a little out of control. The Fragrance of His Love and the bouquet of His Wine was intoxicating. Our little desperado is home, carried on the shoulders of her Love. . . the Eternal, Divine Desperado. God, the Son Himself. He, for me.
Freely given. Freely Received. Free, little outlaws.
A Good Moment 