a jesus story that happened when a refugee went to court for something he didn't do.

i wrote this a million years ago - when all i wrote were stories. a refugee named ceu ling was charged with 'child luring' for speaking to a child in a park. the day of the trial he was let go with a fine. about four months ago he was absolved from it entirely. about 300 of us came to courthouse and sat in the hallway outside of the trial. we were almost completely silent. apparently they called the cops because they thought we were going to riot. anyway. here it is. it's lamely written, but who cares.

friday, april 25, 2008. 4.30pm.

this is perhaps historic.

if i could describe to you what this is...

i certainly would.

as we sat in the church christ the redeemer, i laid my head barely touching the shoulder of a man whose name i had just learned, but feeling close, as though i'd known him for years, maybe simply because we were praying; no, surely because we were praying. we prayed for justice and courage and will and power, and i almost hope that this man is in that courtroom, hearing what i cannot.

here, in a hallway of the courthouse...

here is god.

in the sterile wooden carpet on the floor, the lights are ugly and fluorescent, there's a silver clock that's far too old hanging from the ceiling, the fire escape routes seek to be the solitary wall adornments...

and there are angels here.

we are angels here.

we are not littered here or there as so often we find ourselves to be. no. we are together, we are bound, we are praying, we are powerful, we are strong, we are steady.

in the silence we're singing.

here is our King.

i didn't even know the defendant's name until last night, but now i feel as though i'm sitting on needles, just waiting to know what will happen to him.

the weight of it is staggering.

the unspeakable power and ability of the lord to raise in us this kind of power.

i am standing up because i must watch i must see this record this burn this into my memory so that i will never forget that the lord can and does do.

this must be historic.