Next!

A car was being repossessed.

Discovered in the driveway, the plate and vehicle identification number matched.  A flatbed truck backed up, hooked the vehicle and was preparing to lift when the indebted driver appeared to protest.

Things got heated and, with cables still attached, Driver moved the car behind the house.  Thus, if the vehicle was towed, the house would be damaged.  Repo Guy had a body camera and informed the driver of the footage.  To thank Repo Guy, Driver assaulted him, on camera.

When the cops arrived, Driver was in the house with Repo Guys outside.

There was nothing for a chaplain to do but witness the improbable.

Dutifully the officer interviewed each participant.  In the house; in the driveway; watching the footage; verifying the debt; confirming details.

"Cut her loose...not tonight boys," was the authoritative instruction.

Driver, in arrears and with assault footage, remained in possession.  

Some of the 911 calls hang on a little longer than others.  God was at work, certainly, but seeing how remains difficult.  The driver went to bed, still owing after assaulting people who were doing their jobs. 

One, of dozens of dumbfounding, 911 calls is rehearsed because:

1. Prayer partners ask, "How's the work going?"
2. Writing is therapeutic
3. Dumping the call in the reader's lap lightens my load.

Sorry, not sorry.

God is always at work but sometimes God's work, messes with God's workers.  Seeing a single Black woman go to bed, in debt to White folk, having assaulted White men, was stunning.  I asked the White male officer, on the way to the next call, about the decision.

As if reciting a favorite recipe, the officer pulled the case law that drove the decision.  It came down to the difference between a thing and a person.  When Repo Guys decided not to press charges for the assault, re-establishing quiet enjoyment became paramount.  A disruptive repossession disturbed the peace.  The officer acknowledged Repo Guys' right to take the vehicle and advised them to try again on a different day.

We stayed to make sure everyone decoupled without incident.

Next call!