BY GREG MILLER
Running on a platform of change, Sheriff Solomon had been elected as his county’s top law enforcement official.
“I will temper justice with mercy,” the sheriff told a local newspaper reporter.
One county resident, Samuel, broke into a home, while the sheriff was out on patrol. Sheriff Solomon, driving an unmarked cruiser slowly down a road near his home, watched attentively as Samuel casually walked around the side of a house, opened a window and gained entrance to the residence.
Riding along with Sheriff Solomon was Deputy Stephen, who was still undergoing training. The sheriff stopped the vehicle, asked Deputy Stephen to exit the car and approach the suspect when he left the house.
Deputy Stephen approached the suspect from behind. Within moments, the perpetrator was in handcuffs, a bag of stolen property sitting on the ground next to him. He and the deputy waited for the sheriff to bring the patrol car back around to where they were waiting.
Arriving back at the sheriff’s department, the suspect was placed into a holding cell. In an adjacent holding cell, another prisoner spoke to the new arrival. “Hi, fella, what’s your name?” asked the man already inside his holding cell.”
The new arrival spoke, “My name is Simon. What’s your name?”
“My name is Samson,” the other suspect replied. “I was arrested for burglary. What are your charges?”
“Burglary’s the charge against me, too, but I’m not worried. I hear this new sheriff will give everyone a break. He’ll work with those who are charged and help resolve their cases.”
“Yes, he is,” said Samson, “And that’s the problem.”
“How is it a problem?”
“Well, you see, the sheriff is willing to work with inmates who have only been arrested one or two times. He tries to help them realize their mistakes so they don’t go further into the criminal justice system. Since this is your first time being arrested, he’ll probably go easy on you and help you as much as he can.
“What about you?”
“This is my fifth offense,” said Samson. “And when I was brought in for my third charge the sheriff said, ‘If you’re brought in for a fourth charge, you won’t get off so easy. And the fifth time, I’ll put you under the jail and throw away the key. It will take a miracle for you to get out!’
“I’m getting ready right now to pray for that miracle the sheriff was talking about. I know I have to pay my debt to society, but I believe in God, I believe in miracles and I know somehow He’s going to make a way for me!”
(To contact the writer of this column about speaking engagements (in the U.S.A.), including Christian Comedy Fundraising Outreaches, Christian Creativity Seminars and/or puppet ministry, please type “Speaking Engagements” in the subject line and e-mail raysofson@gmail.com or kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com)