If one of my three children were caught in the match-fixing, I know exactly what I would do
How should we as followers of Christ respond to the current horror of match-fixing in the game of cricket (the sport is viewed as a religion in India)? How would we respond were it to be our child caught in this terrible crime?
I have three adult children and if it had to be one of them caught in the spot and match-fixing scandal, how would I like to respond to the situation, and more important, how would the Almighty One want me to respond to the situation?
No 3 guesses about how I would want to respond. I would cry myself hoarse before and away from the cameras saying, "My child is innocent; he or she is being framed!" I would go on saying this, long after guilt is proved and established.
I would go on saying this, long after guilt is proved and established.
Ingrid Albuquerque-Solomon
How the Lord would want me to respond is another matter altogether; and since I believe I have been created to please Him and glorify His Name through my life and actions, I would follow His course. I would tell the authorities (since there exists no authority except that instituted by God), "I am sorry this has happened to my child; but my prayer is that you will conduct a fair and impartial enquiry."
To my child I would send this message: "Son or daughter, first of all, I love you, no matter what. I am praying that the authorities will conduct an impartial enquiry. Should the truth emerge that you have done this, I will be sad, but more than that, I want you to know that I will be with you to see it through; you will not be on your own; we will get through it together, my precious one."
When we cover up for our children's crimes, we do not only fail society but we sin gravely against God. When a powerful politician's brother-in-law killed an innocent person in Bangalore at point blank range, the politician moved the powers that were and got the criminal out scot free. A few years later, when this same powerful man's nephew cut his grandmother into pieces in Hyderabad and confessed to his crime, the man moved not heaven but earth and got his son out of the Hyderabad jail and overnight shipped him to US.
As I sit watching the fascinating new series In Cold Blood brought out by National Geographic every night, I dread the day one of the episodes will feature a terrible crime committed by either of the two "freed" criminals mentioned above.
Lord, only You can give us the courage to do what is right in these difficult situations, for You know we are frail, weak and made of dust. Please be with the families currently in the limelight.
Ingrid Albuquerque-Solomon
In memoriam. Died 2 May 2023.
A writer in Bangalore who runs Single Mom Meets, a monthly support group for single mothers. She publishes her contact number in the newspapers.