Words From The Warden

This past Sunday, Pastor Julia delivered a sermon that resonated deeply with me. She spoke about our tendency to create systems in which the oppressed can become the oppressor. Often, we see ourselves as deserving of God’s love while viewing others as unworthy. Her message invited us to consider the essential roles of justice and mercy in our lives.

Pastor Julia’s words reminded me of the years I spent as an Adult Probation Officer in Wood County, Bowling Green, Ohio. I found great purpose and fulfillment in that work, so much so that I envisioned it as my lifelong career. I earned a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling from BGSU and, had I continued down that path, these “Words from the Warden” would be coming from a very different warden indeed.

My responsibilities included conducting presentencing investigations, supervising men and women on probation, and collaborating closely with local law enforcement, defense attorneys, and the Prosecuting Attorney and her staff. My primary duty was to provide the two Common Pleas judges with comprehensive and accurate reports on convicted felons. These reports detailed previous legal infractions, employment and educational backgrounds, family and personal histories, and attitudes. Over the course of my career, I interviewed and prepared presentencing reports for 750 felons, covering offenses such as theft, burglary, child and spousal abuse, assault, and murder.

Judges Williamson and Simmons took great interest in all aspects of the convicted individuals’ lives. They were accountable to the electorate for public safety and to their own sense of fairness. They had to make decisions regarding restitution, the appropriateness and length of prison sentences, and the terms of probation. I took my responsibility to aid the judges in making these decisions very seriously, always mindful of the balance between justice and mercy.

Several years ago, I encountered a Talmudic story about the Israelites crossing the parted Red Sea and the drowning of the pursuing Egyptian army. As the Egyptians perished, the angels sang and celebrated. God rebuked them, saying, “The creatures of My hand are drowning in the sea, and you are rejoicing and singing?” This divine perspective teaches that even the demise of one’s enemies should not be a cause for celebration. The story emphasizes the sanctity of life and the importance of compassion, reinforcing the enduring tension between justice and mercy.

This story echoes the wisdom found in King Solomon’s Proverbs: “When the wicked perish there is singing,” but also, “When your enemy falls, do not rejoice.” If we are unmoved when evil is punished, we may not care enough, yet if we are not saddened by the loss of life (or injustice), our humanity suffers. According to the ancient Rabbi Maimonides, we should strive to walk the middle path (path of the wise), balancing justice and mercy—a path that can be precarious and difficult to navigate.

As we seek to be God’s hands and feet in this world, let us heed the call to love one another and continue striving to walk the path of the wise. By embracing both justice and mercy, we uphold our humanity and reflect the love that God calls us to share.

Peace,
Henry Zaborniak, Senior Warden