Christ-like grace

I'll admit I wasn't familiar with this hit-and-run incident which occurred last October in Blaine.

John Jones was sentenced in Minnesota's Anoka County Thursday morning after pleading guilty to criminal vehicular homicide charges in the deadly October 2021 hit-and-run crash in Blaine that killed local Pilates studio owner, Bridget Dunn.

Dunn was out for a midday walk with her dog when she was struck and left for dead on 109th Avenue Northeast on the edge of her Blaine neighborhood.

Typically an incident such as this results in significant jail time for the perpetrator. But that's not what is happening here. 

The sentence handed down by Judge Melissa Saterbak initially avoids prison time for Jones if he complies with conditions of probation. An agreement Dunn’s loved ones signed off on to give Jones a second chance.

At the sentencing, Bridget's sister and widower shared victim impact statements. Both seemed to be attempts to bring comfort to Mr. Jones as opposed to making him feel worse about his horrible mistake. 

"YOU CAN REALLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE": Must watch this family's courtroom compassion. Bridget Dunn's loved ones sign off on deal helping deadly hit & run driver avoid prison, for now. If John Jones gets sober & follows law on probation, his 69-month prison sentence goes away. @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/CB664OhjNP

— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) March 24, 2022

Mercy is not receiving what you deserve (in this case, no jail time for Mr. Jones). But grace is receiving something you do not deserve. The family of Bridget Dunn (with an assist from the Judge of course) are extending grace. 

I have no intimate knowledge what the belief system of Bridget's loved ones entails. But whether they realized it or not, their grace and compassion is similar to what Jesus Christ showed all of us when he denied his own pain in order that we may be spared an awful plight. As Christians, it's up to us to utilize that gift God has given us (i.e. salvation) in order to not only be spared damnation but share the good news with others. 

On a lesser scale, Mr. Jones has a legitimate chance to better his life while not having to endure the wretched conditions of jail. In essence he's been given a gift. What he does with it is now his decision. 

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