I spent time in my new office at my new church on Tuesday. I managed to get some things accomplished and saved others for the following work day. After a couple of phone calls, I decided to go home and have lunch. I did some minor things around the house and then decided to lay down for a quick power nap. Before I hit the couch, my cell phone twitter notification starting beeping like crazy. I saw that a verdict had come in for the Casey Anthony trial. I turned on the tv and soon heard the outrage of many about the outcome. I heard cries that justice was not served. I heard comments that justice was served. I heard how people were taking sides. Interesting how a child’s death can cause such deep seeded anger as people look for answers and revenge/retribution for the one(s) who may or may not have had a hand in the death. As a criminal justice major, I have to say the system worked. Yet because of the human factors in defending and prosecuting the case, mistakes are made. 
As a pastor I know that God is taking care of Caylee and that when the time comes, God will have something to say to Casey and her family. Justice belongs to the Lord does it not? What kind of God do we believe in? The God I believe in loves each and every one us and wants us back in relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. For me, knowing and believing that, I see God loving Caylee. I also see God loving Casey and her family but with tears in His eyes. God will have the final word on them not us. The justice system while based on God’s law, is still administered by us imperfect human beings. I struggle with the comments about those of the jury who made their decision. Twelve imperfect people in an imperfect system trying to seek human justice for the death of this little girl. When police do not do their job well, when prosecutors and defense attorneys do not do their jobs well, justice, human justice does not always come out as we would like it. After all the anger and finger pointing die down, what are we left with? A lot of questions without answers. I cannot think of anything more important for us as humans and as people of faith to pray not just for this family, for this little girl, for all involved one way or another, but for all missing and exploited, and abused children everywhere that someone might be able to find them, rescue them, and protect them. There are many, many more children out there who are lost, alone and of different color and ethnicity who have not even had their day in court. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children quoted a study that said, 797,500 children (younger than 18) were reported missing in a one-year period of time studied resulting in an average of 2,185 children being reported missing each day. Based on that Caley Anthony was just one that day how many years ago. Our task to protect our children is a daunting one but one which we need to do a much better job of. God offers us forgiveness for not only those things we did do but for those things we didn’t do or left undone. Just because human justice was not found for Caylee, does not mean we stop seeking justice for other children who are still out there, missing or dead. If we stop, then the justice of God will come down on us. 
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