Word from Wiese

What’s Your Coverage?

What’s Your Coverage?

27 April 2022

Keep CalmOver the weekend, a person in my family accidentally lost their phone/wallet on an evening out.   Like a detective determining the scene of the crime, the site of the loss was narrowed to either a karaoke bar or the back seat of an Uber.   Since it was very late, my family member decided just to call them in the morning.  Surely the phone/wallet would be turned in by a Good Samaritan, probably missing some cash.

Alas, the phone/wallet was never turned in.  Not only was the friendly help missing, the ferocious harm came in spades.   My family member’s debit card was drained at various ATMs.  The credit card was maxed out from fraudulent purchases all over the Midwest.  The thieves, although scrupulous, were smart.  They made child’s play of the i-phone’s password and location alert, apparently reconditioning it for re-sale.  Gone, gone, gone.

“Finders keepers, losers weepers.”  The old phrase is true, albeit unfair and painful.

But two bigger take-aways for me at the moment:

First, do the right thing.   There have been two times in my life when I’ve accidentally left something behind.  On both occasions a Good Samaritan made a special effort to get my valuables back to me.   It felt fantastic!   We all know the relief when our lost becomes found.   When the missing wallet, car keys, or laptop are discovered.   A wave of relief rolls over us.  When other human beings help us in that reunion—especially if we don’t know them—our faith in humanity soars!

But the opposite is true.  When it’s clear our fellow neighbor worked for our harm instead of our help.  As my family member stated, “what puts a pit in my stomach almost more than losing the cash and having to jump through all these hoops to get a new phone is the realization that people exist out there who act this way!”  Yep.

Martin Luther explained the Seventh Command this way:  “You shall not steal.   What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.” Indeed.  Let’s make the world a sweeter place by doing the right thing and helping each other with our stuff.   We know that given enough time, we’ll all be both on the giving and receiving end of that mission.  In both cases, we’ll feel excited about doing the right thing.

My second reflection:   what kind of coverage do you have?  My family member was over the moon after talking to the representatives of Discover Card and Delta Community Credit Union.  Both companies stated they would not hold my family member responsible for all the fraudulent charges.   The transactions would be wiped away.

In just this Second Sunday of Easter, with Good Friday still fresh in our hearts, I couldn’t help but think of the real “Good Hands” person.   Jesus stretched his hands out on nails so he could hold our hands in good times and bad.   My family member could barely breathe thinking of the prospect of having to pay for all the charges racked up on their bill.   As humans, we would likewise gasp if we would actually be held to account for all the debits we’ve created—whether completely our fault or produced with an “yeah, but” asterisk story.

But good news as Easter people.  In Christ, all the charges are wiped clean!  We’re freed up to no longer worry about the past, but focus on our future.  With Jesus and each other.

Let us pray: 

Dear God, thanks for the fantastic news that no matter how many charges end up on my ledger, you’ve got my back and will ensure that I’m “in the black” with your love and forgiveness.  I’m thankful!  So, inspire me to show my thanks to you by treating my neighbors with the utmost respect, especially when they need some unexpected help. Help us to have each other’s backs as you have ours.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.