Day 7 & 8 - FINAL POST

May 1st, 2024
by Walt Garrett

Day 7 and 8 - FINAL POST

I am writing this final post from my living room in Benton. I wasn’t supposed to be home this early, so let me explain what happened.

Day 7 - Monday, April 29

The day started just like any other over the last week at GC: alarm went off way too early (5:21 am), got dressed, my bag ready, a bowl of cereal from the lobby (Honey Nut Cheerios), then out to my truck. When I opened the rear driver's side door to put my backpack in its normal spot, I noticed something on the floor of the truck. “That’s odd, I didn’t leave anything in the truck…other than the pair of socks Molly left on the floor after gymnastics.” I realized it was my center console. I look up, and the rear passenger side window is missing.

I do the normal things: go inside and tell the front desk, call Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, take pictures of the crime scene, and call my insurance company. I reached out to my Page supervisor to share what happened and that I wouldn’t be in the morning plenary session. Broke the news to Kenda. Waited impatiently for insurance to call me back. Waited some more. Then some more. Did some yoga. Waited. Got lunch (drive-thru, naturally) and waited some more. I was not getting prompt replies from my insurance provider, and I couldn’t stay at the hotel where I was at with a broken out window, so I made the decision to head home. I shared the news with those I was connected with in Charlotte, packed, and got to bed early for a long travel day.
Two overarching thoughts came to mind as I ended my last day in Charlotte.

First: for the person who broke into my truck. Almost immediately I forgave him, and prayed for him all day, hoping he wasn’t injured from his actions. While it was an inconvenience for us, we have insurance and will be fine. I could only imagine the hard place the person who broke into my truck was to do such a thing. I’m not saying I’m always that quick to forgive (I’m not!) but the Holy Spirit allowed me to forgive him. I invite you to join me in my prayer for the person who broke into my truck: that he was not injured from the event, that he doesn’t feel the need to participate in other crimes, and that he knows the forgiving love of Jesus.

Second: how I interacted with a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD on the day where four officers were killed in a gun battle as they were trying to execute a warrant to a person on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Officer Womble - the gentlemen who took my statement on the break-in - and his colleagues stand in harm’s way every moment they are on duty. I pray for the families of the four who died in the line of duty, those wounded, and for the perpetrator's family.

Day 8 - Tuesday, April 30

The 13-hour drive home without a window wasn’t great, but I made it home in time for the girls weekly gymnastics practice. As I write this I am over the moon that I got to snuggle with Cate and Molly on the couch after nine days apart, but am saddened I cannot serve the remaining days of GC 2020 in 2024.
I am grateful for you all who have shared in my experiences over the last week, and I hope you continue to pray for all those who are finishing up their work in Charlotte. If you would like to know more about the day’s events at GC, I would invite you to read UM News. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have...if I can't answer them, we'll try to find the answer together!