A Stabbing in Bergenfield

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2024 Blog #18

April 29, 2024

A Stabbing in Bergenfield

We suffered a tragedy here in Bergenfield this past week. A young middle school student was stabbed. This incident didn’t take place in the school, nor on the school property but on land adjacent to railroad tracks behind the school property. Because juveniles were involved, very few details have been released. Yet, it is tragic that one middle school student was detained by police, and another was hospitalized because of a stab wound.

Most of us have seen altercations between school students. Some of us have been involved with them. Few escalate into violence although, tragically, some do. I saw my share at that age in Jersey City. I was involved in a few myself. When I was that age, any escalating altercation ended in a fist fight, not shootings or stabbings.

What causes these tragedies? What causes arguments to escalate like this? My experience, and research that I have done, indicate that in most cases, it all begins with bullying. A child is bullied by parents and the child in turn takes his rage out by bullying others. The one who is getting bullied has a choice as to how to react. In most cases the perceived choices are either flight or fight.

It is sad that in our community there are children who feel the need to carry knives. I can only guess at the circumstances that such children are living in at their homes. Are they bullied at home? Are they neglected and seek their esteem on the street instead of with family? How would the family of a middle school student not know that a young man was carrying a knife, or even felt the need to carry such a weapon?

Yes, it is certainly a tragedy, and a sin, that a boy was stabbed. I believe that it is even a greater sin that two boys were put into such bad circumstances.  Family and community put these two into the position where they felt this fight was a good idea, or at least, the lesser of evils. A Biblical teaching is that “sin causes more sin.” I’m sure that this stabbing is an example of that principle. It takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to set up the circumstances that makes these tragedies happen.

I pray for these two young men, that they will find the resources to change the trajectories of their lives so that further tragedies can be avoided. I pray for the families of these two, that they may make some changes in how they relate to these youngsters. I pray for the middle school students whose innocence has been lost by a classmate getting stabbed and one being arrested. How much fear do these students now carry with them as they wonder which of their classmates might own weapons and if their lives might be in danger?

Sin does cause more sin and it is up to all of us to help prevent the sin that leads to other sin. These two young people did not act in this way in a vacuum. It is up to all of us of good will to do all that we can to prevent the next tragedy from happening.

Holy Week Presence, Touch, and Prayers

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2024 Blog #14

April 1, 2024

Holy Week Presence, Touch, and Prayers

Holy Week is always busy for those of us in ministry. There are more services to conduct and many more preparations to make. The final stretch of the week goes from Thursday through Sunday. For those who have Vigil services on the day before the day of Jesus’ Resurrection, there are services four days in a row. Holding services on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday can make one tired.

This year my Holy Week was just a bit busier. Two congregants are ill and need frequent visits. One was taken to the local hospital after experiencing severe back pains. He has a weak aorta, and the doctors are looking at surgical options. He looked a bit fearful when he told me that he was a “time bomb.”

I can’t blame him for his fear. He is about my age. The doctors are recommending that the surgery to fix his problem be delayed a few weeks to make the surgical prognosis more likely. Until then, the man waits, and worries. I try to visit and pray with this man as close to daily as I can.

Another man that I am visiting almost daily is suffering a long and slow decline. Several weeks ago, nurses told the man’s wife that his time was short. For me, the decline appears to be slower than the fears that his wife is having. Yet, it comforts both that I visit almost daily. He sleeps through most of my visits and is rarely articulate when he is awake.

His weakness precludes any real conversation but when he is awake, his eyes indicate that he recognized me. He always extends his hand toward me and smiles when I take it. At times he tries to speak and usually it is inarticulate babble. At other times he does not attempt to speak but simply looks at me, smiles, and clutches my hand.

Holding his hand, I talk to him about Jesus, life, death, and meeting Jesus, face to face when his time to leave this earth comes. His smile is constant, at times tears begin to form in his eyes and, at times, he squeezes my hand.

I wish that I had been given the gift of healing so that I could cure these two gentlemen. I can only be a presence of comfort to them. I can only offer my touch, my prayers, my comfort, and my prayers. I hope that this is sufficient.

Yes, we just finished Holy Week and for me it was busier than most Holy Weeks, but I can’t think of anything that I would rather do than hold hands, while bringing presence, comfort, and prayers. Too often, Christ’s faithful leave such work to ministers. I suggest that all Christians do this Holy work. How much more kingdom work could we do if we all made each week, Holy, with our presence, our touch, our comfort, and our prayers.