MercyCHAPLAIN Bill Mahedy was called into the battalion commander’s office. The colonel wanted to talk about a soldier in the unit who had become addicted to heroin. After a ...
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Mercy CHAPLAIN Bill Mahedy was called into the battalion commander’s office. The colonel wanted to talk about a soldier in the unit who had become addicted to heroin. After a series of minor offenses and nonjudicial punishments, the soldier had undergone detoxification in jail. His tour of duty in Vietnam was about up, and he was soon to return to the States. The colonel had resolved to recommend the man for an “other than honorable” discharge and wanted the chaplain’s opinion. Mahedy strongly disagreed with the colonel’s decision. He could see no good reason to saddle the man with a permanent mark that would affect his future employment opportunities because of his failure as a soldier during wartime. An argument started between the two men and soon began to heat up. At one point, the colonel angrily pounded his desk and shouted, “Damn it, Chaplain, the New Testament talks about justice!” The chaplain stood up to the same desk and shouted back, “Damn it, Colonel, the New Testament talks about mercy!” The battalion commander made a mistake getting into this argument. He had the authority to make the decision about the soldier’s future based on his own judgment. However, there is a higher authority about whom the chaplain knew more than did the colonel. Forgiveness and mercy were the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry and a major theme of the New Testament. Thanks to our Savior, none of us has to face the justice we deserve. In the end, the colonel bowed to this higher authority and relented in his decision. The soldier was given another chance.   | |
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