The Stone Has Been Rolled Away

"While it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb."

--John 20:1

On Easter Sunday, at the second service, I told a story about two families, and the friendship and new life that has been experienced in the wake of terrible tragedy. Tariq Khamisa was a vibrant, twenty year old art student studying in San Diego. In addition to his studies he had a part-time job delivering pizzas. One evening a group of young teenage boys who had been playing video games, drinking, and using drugs all day hatched a plan to rob the pizza delivery man. One of them, a fourteen year old named Tony Hicks, had a gun. When Tariq refused to give them the pizza, Tony shot him.

A number of lives ended that day, at least as they had been known. Tariq's life was lost. His family's life with him was ended. Tony's life was essentially over at age fourteen. Tony's grandfather, Ples Felix, who had taken over as Tonys guardian when his mother had left, was crushed, as Tony had taken a young man's life life "and betrayed every bit of love" he had received.

Even in his horrible pain, Tariq's dad, Azim, saw that "there were victims at both end of the gun." At Tony's prison sentencing, Tony confessed his guilt and said that he prayed to God that Tariq's father would forgive him. He also said that his grandfather, Ples, pledged to be Mr Khamisa's friend.

As he grieved, a spiritual mentor urged Azim to channel that grief into doing a good, compassionate deed. Azim began the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, dedicated to stopping kids from killing kids.

He reached out to Ples Felix, and asked Ples to help him. Ples says it was an answer to prayer.

Azim and Ples began speaking together to children in schools about forgiveness, reconciliation, and nonviolence. When their presentation begins, the person introducing them begins by standing behind Ples and then moves behind Azim saying, "This man's grandson murdered this man's son." Azim reflects: "This is the first time in their young lives that they actually see an alternative to violence; mostly what they see in our culture is an eye-for-an-eye."

Azim and Ples became best friends. Though they come from different faith traditions, the infuence of their beliefs and the living out of them has shined light in what was only darkness. Azim has gotten to know Tony, who rejoices in what is possible with God, even while doing twenty-five to life. Azim has petitioned for an early release for Tony, and offered him a job at the Tariq Khamisa foundation when he gets out.

Death has not had the last word! Crushing burdens have been lifted, huge stones separating people have been rolled away, new life has been breathed into a situation previously defined by death.

This is Easter power! This is what the love of God is capable of.