My Own Casey Anthony

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You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

Matthew 5:21-22 The Message

I don’t live in Florida. And I barely keep up with the news. In fact, the first thing I heard about the Casey Anthony trial was that people were upset that she had been acquitted on charges of murder.

There’s no way I can put myself in her shoes, having stood trial, and been declared not guilty on accusations that I’d killed my own child. As the foreperson read the verdict you could see her breath taken away. How her knees didn’t buckle I’ll never know.

In that moment, either a burden had been lifted or one had been applied. Either way– she wasn’t going to go to jail.

Tears were natural. I don’t know if I could have stood up to that moment with my future literally written on a piece of paper for a woman to read like she did. She stood there and took the verdict. And in the moments afterward I am sure her mind raced… “Now what?”

There hadn’t been a next step in her life. But suddenly, in a breath, there was.

I’m not Casey Anthony.

While I’m not Ms. Anthony– I am Mr. McLane. And I can put myself in my own shoes. My shoes aren’t much cleaner than hers.

According to Matthew 5 I am a murderer. And one day I will stand trial and be found guilty on hundreds of counts of murder according to Jesus’ standard. I’m a hopeless case. As I think about my trial, there may be some counts in which I’d plead guilty. And there might be others in which I plead innocent. And, who knows, there might be some in which I’m guilty of both the charge against myself and providing a false report to try to get myself out of trouble for committing the crime which I’d been charged.

I’m my own Casey Anthony

I have no idea what really happened with the real Casey Anthony. But my life is full of excuses and lies and manipulations of fact, too.

Just like her I need a second chance on life. Who am I kidding? I need a 4,635,128th chance on life.

That’s what is so amazing about second chances in Jesus’ eyes. I might be a hopeless case. But, hanging on the cross, Jesus bore my punishment so I could continue on. In a breath and suddenly, tetelaste, my second chance on life was given.

Just like Ms. Anthony’s life– from this day forward– her life will be defined by what she does with her second chance.

So will mine.  So will mine.

Check out more stories in this series at People of the Second Chance


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Comments

17 responses to “My Own Casey Anthony”

  1. Drew Peterson Avatar

    Great post! Thanks for sharing. So true!

    I’m writing my POTSC post on Thursday.

  2. MikeFoster Avatar

    great post adam! such great insights on this!

  3. Mike Lehr Avatar

    Really appreciated this Adam. Way to kick things off strong for this exciting campaign focused on scandalous grace!

  4. Benji Zimmerman Avatar

    Love this! Love your transparency!

    1. twitter_AshleyASmith Avatar
      twitter_AshleyASmith

      agreed! I hope I can do something with my second chance, too

  5. Casey Freeman Avatar

    This is incredibly humbling.

  6. Angela Downs Avatar

    Great thoughts here, Adam! Thanks for kicking off the Never Beyond series with such a strong message of radical grace and redemption!

  7. ruby martinez Avatar

    Wow. The same sentiments Adam..great post!

  8. Lisa Anderson Avatar
    Lisa Anderson

    I too am my own Casey Anthony. I received radical grace and a 2nd chance (actually many) from God and from so many graceful people. I did not deserve it. For many people, I was one who had “crossed that line” Yet, here I am. My goal now is to pay it forward.

  9. Barbara Brandt Avatar

    God can use Casy Anthony to tell an amazing story of His redemption – His grace is big enough and His love for her strong enough! What I have to remind myself about the Casey Anthonys of the world is this: God loves her just as he loves me, God created her, has purposes and plans for her, and — my own sins would completely overwhelm and condemn me if not for the grace of God and all the” second chances” He gives me!!!

  10. mclanea Avatar

    Humbled by the response to today’s post, My Own Casey Anthony. #neverbeyond #POTSC

  11. Brandy Schaal Avatar

    Amazing post Adam! I pray my life is defined by what I do with my second chance!

  12. Barb Brinker Avatar
    Barb Brinker

    Very good insight Adam. Another thing I must add is I would like to know how many Christians have really truly prayed for Casey. I’ve talked to several Christians who told me they didn’t want to see her in heaven because she doesn’t deserve it. Really? Do any of us deserve to go to heaven? No, but through Christ’s amazing love, he shed his blood for us, so that we can go to heaven. We need to obey Christ by praying and loving her. Show her the grace that He has shown us. Okay, I’m done lecturing now.

  13. […] of the never beyond grace was lost on me with this image. It wasn’t until I read another POTSCer’s blog that the hammer dropped and the depth of the second chance hit […]

  14. twitter_bernie_loves_u Avatar
    twitter_bernie_loves_u

    Such a great post!
    Great way to kick off the series!

  15. Sharon Grant Vanhoose Avatar

    Great post and I am every bit as guilty if not more because I have made so many mistakes thanks for the great perspective.

  16. Lyndie Blevins Avatar
    Lyndie Blevins

    Well said.

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