Anthony Wainwright : The Initial Encounter
Nobody wants to be prejudged. This is an eternal truth. When I encounter the condemned, I want to meet them where they are. Such was the case of Anthony Wainwright. I had no idea what he had been convicted of. Of course, when you meet somebody on death row, one can easily assume that you’re not talking about bicycle theft. So, I think it’s important to note that I got to know Anthony Wainwright before I’d ever heard of Carmen Gayheart.
Anthony Wainwright : The Seeker
God took on flesh. God walked among us. Why? So, that God could be present with us. The incarnation is most fully defined by one word…presence. We too are called to be defined by that word.
In the beginning, I worked very hard to be present for Anthony. It wasn’t easy. We are very different. Anthony is much more reserved than I am. It was difficult to get him to open up. I’m sure he had his thoughts about me. Yet, we kept coming back. Over and over again, we discussed the difficult things. Slowly, God drew us closer.
Anthony Wainwright : The Redeemed Child of God
Then, it happened. One afternoon on the phone, Anthony asked if we could talk about Carmen Gayheart. I still had no idea who she was. I soon found out. The narrative and the details came quickly. Of course, the real story is always much different from the legal story. There is no doubt in my mind that Anthony did not commit anything close to capital murder. But, one is never prepared to hear of even limited involvement in such a crime…especially from someone they’ve come to care about. I didn’t say too much. I just listened. The pressure of carrying the horror of it all that had built for decades was spraying out all over the place. When he finished, the line paused. Sometimes, one must breathe for a few seconds before they can speak again.
“Do you want to be forgiven?” I asked slowly and with deep reverence for the moment at hand. Deep emotion mumbled on the other end of the line. Then, Anthony replied, “I’m just so sorry. Please forgive me.” The world changed. When I heard his desperate words of repentance, I didn’t hesitate, “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
I didn’t know all the details. I don’t know all the details. I don’t need to know. God’s grace exists far beyond our need for details. The ones that question such grace don’t think they need it. Anthony had no doubt of what he needed.
Anthony Wainwright : The End
Of course, I’m praying that Anthony won’t be executed on June 10. He has so much left to offer the world. He is an unbelievable testament to the beauty of grace. But if he is, I will be there by his side. And if his life ends in those moments, eternity will draw close…and the first sight that he will see is Carmen Gayheart…welcoming him into a place where grace knows no end.
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