Hello fellow readers! I have been MIA for a very LONG time. I plan on updating more on what is going on in the life of the Stier household, but for now a mini update: we graduated from law school, headed to Texas, and are in Austin for the summer studying for the Texas bar (which is turning out to be more difficult than law school). But now, onto my thoughts for the evening since I know that is why each of you check this blog...
This week has been a long and historical week, not for the fact that I have been stuck in my house unable to feel the Summer heat studying for the Bar Exam nor for the fact that I did well on (one) MBE test, but for the country of America. This week started off with a jury returning a resounding verdict of guilty of 45 of 48 counts against Jerry Sandusky. The middle of the week gave us two new cases handed down by the Supreme Court, one which invalidated state laws against immigration (with a president failing to cooperate with the portion that was constitutional) and the other which made universal health care constitutional (thoughts on which would take another day and multiple blog entries). Finally, the week rounded out with the first ever Attorney General being held in contempt for failing to release documents. I have to say, between these three things plus the Dream Act and the first Catholic minister to be convicted of child abuse, things have been quite busy in America lately. However, despite universal health care, immigration laws, and contempt issues, my mind is still thinking about Jerry Sandusky, the victims, and the trial surrounding the scandal that rocked Penn State. To be honest, much of my time and attention has been turned toward this case ever since it was first broken by the young 24 year old journalist last November. While the jury returned a verdict of guilty 45 times over against Sandusky and the hype surrounding it has calmed in the wake of the Supreme Court's new decision declaring health care constitution under Congress' taxing and spending power, I have a feeling that my attention will remain on the Penn State scandal for quite some time to come, if not many, many years into my future.
I have always had child advocacy on my heart. In fact, the reason that I ventured to law school was due to a trip where I saw children of Guatemala that needed a voice. So, I ventured to law school to learn the art of advocacy. I went to law school wanting to work in adoption and, while I still have a deep love and passion for adoption, I left feeling called to child advocacy on a much more serious and grueling level. In law school, I found myself having a deep passion for child advocacy, particularly in the area of child sexual abuse. This is an area that many people shy away from, however, I have found myself having a deep passion for the topic, for the children who are victimized, and for ways to raise awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse. I have taken many courses in law school centering around child advocacy and have kept myself updated on the media, news, and research around the area. So, when the Penn State and Jerry Sandusky scandal broke, you can imagine my interest in events that were unfolding. Nevertheless, it is safe to say, I have had a very close eye on the pre-trial and trial of the Sandusky trial, and I have especially been glued to the TV for the past three weeks.
Last Sunday as I watched live as the Sandusky trial came to a close, watched the crowd outside cheer, and realized that this man who abused young men for over fifteen years was finally going to jail for the rest of his life, I did not have the excitement that I thought I would. In fact, a deep, dark sadness came over my heart as I watched the live coverage. Even now as I write this, I feel the same sadness. As I wrestled with this news, I tried to sort through why I felt such sadness (almost to tears) as I watched this man get put in the police car to go to jail. I came to realize there were three reasons for my sadness: 1) child abuse is such a huge issue that has been prevalent for many, many years, yet it took such a big scandal to awaken society; 2) the crowds outside the courthouse that cheered and the people that yelled at Sandusky as he got into the police car created a social and media event outside while young victims were inside dealing with real life issues, sobbing uncontrollably; and 3) someone like Jerry Sandusky who would do something like this is a lost soul, and if statistics are true, likely had similar abuse happen to him as a young child, making this a very sad story. Perhaps it was the distance, shock, or inability to feel or care displayed by Sandusky that made me sad. Whatever the reason, while others yelled for Jerry Sandusky to "rot in hell," I found myself wanting the grace of God to heal him, from his past pain and his sin-not exactly the feelings I thought I would have as I watched Sandusky get taken to jail. However, I realized in that moment that the deep dark sadness that I felt covering me as I watched Jerry Sandusky get in the police car is likely similar pain Jerry Sandusky has felt his entire life. The fact that someone is that hurting, dark, and pained, actually made me feel sad. I also realized in that moment that if a (very) small part of me wanted Jerry Sandusky to receive the grace of God, how much more did God, all loving and knowing Creator of Jerry Sandusky love and desire for Jerry Sandusky to ask for grace. That is a powerful God-too much for me to comprehend that God would love someone that does something so dark. Yet he loves me just the same. Humbling to say the least.
As I watched the Jerry Sandusky trial end, nearly in tears, another reason for these tears dawned on me. This past semester I took a class called Child Abuse and the Law. During this class I learned about many instances of sexual abuse that take place in institutions, many of which are the church. The staggering news is that while the Catholic church has been under scrutiny for abuse taking place in the church, it happens just as much in Protestant circles. The amount of institutional protection that is set up is often times the most disheartening aspect of it all, that a Church or a university would be more concerned about reputation than protecting children who have been victimized. In the Sandusky case alone there were at least five adults that knew of the abuse that could have done something to protect the children. However, as I sat and watched the courthouse in Pennsylvania with millions around the country, I realized that this sort of abuse happens each and every day to tons of children nationwide, much of which goes unreported just as Sandusky did for so many years. I hope this has raised enough awareness to raise the blinders from the public's eye. I also realized that abusers like Jerry Sandusky exist all over the nation, some are prosecuted and some are not. However, few of them receive the national attention that Jerry Sandusky has. And it was here that it hit me: no institution is free from stumbling, not even a large state-wide university or a Mega-church. My mind immediately went to a verse, something about pride comes before the fall....
While the Sandusky case has been heavy on my heart, as well as the depravity of sin, I began to think about the positive. After all, God uses all things for HIS good: for after the storm comes restoration, replenishment, and rejuvination. Then it hit me: awareness of child sexual abuse has never been at a more heightened time in history than on the night that Jerry Sandusky was convicted. Hopefully this means that people are aware and willing to listen to the fact that abuse does occur. It occurs in foster homes, churches, universities, day cares, on the streets, and in private homes. It happens more than we know, however, now is the time to raise awareness and protect the most vulnerable in this world. I am convinced that how one views a child portrays many views on how they view God. After all, it was God who said, "Let the little children come unto me." I know that although this event had to happen for such horrible lengths, to so many young boys, in such horrific manners, I am prayerful that God will use this situation for His good to raise awareness of child abuse.
I have had a passion to combat child sexual abuse for many years now. However, when you mention this to people you hear, "Wow, that is intense and emotionally draining. Are you sure you want to do that?" Watching the prosecutors speak after the jury verdict I realized that yes, it is draining. In fact, my heart has been heavy just watching it, much less, being the actual advocate. So, yes, I am aware of the emotionally draining aspect. However, I also know that a calling rejected is bad news bears (see Jonah). While it is a goal to get a job at a prosecutor's office to combat crimes against children, I also aspire to raise awareness. The sad part about being a prosecutor or attorney general is that they merely punish the crimes and evildoer. At that point, the victims lives have already been affected. However, I am hopeful to raise awareness to reduce child abuse in this nation. Instances of child abuse has raised SIGNIFICANTLY in the past fifty years. I am hopeful that God will use this horrible situation to raise ears to a serious national problem. I am hopeful that the Sandusky case is the catalyst to bringing change and ending child abuse in America.
So, as I write tonight, my heart is heavy: heavy that we are depraved, sad that the abuse happened and no one did anything about it, and heavy at the thought that leaders or anyone (including myself) could have blinders on about abuse going on around them. Despite my heavy heart, my heart is also hopeful: hopeful that the victims can get some healing from this, hopeful that Sandusky has some sort of salvation prior to his death, and hopeful that this incident has raised global awareness of the abuse that takes places every day in counties across the nation, despite the lack of media attention they receive. I pray that this situation will not be a situation that merely gets media hype and then dies off. I hope that despite new Supreme Court decisions or whatever else is going on in America that we always remain aware of children who are abused, that we will always be in tune to what is going on around us in order to prevent abuse and help those in our circles that are being abused, and find ways to protect God's precious children. I am hopeful that this turns a new leaf for the area of child advocacy.
If you need some light reading see some verses that have been on my heart lately: Matthew 18:1-9, Matthew 19: 13-15, and Mark 13-16.
Until next time, be blessed....
