Susan Kuhnhausen is a 51-year-old nurse in Portland, Oregon. She returned home from work September 6, turned off her home alarm and stepped inside to find Dalton Haffey racing toward her with a hammer in hand. He landed a couple of blows on Susan but she began to fight back and she wrestled the hammer away from him and then strangled him to death.
Police are not charging her with any crime concluding that Susan Kuhnhausen acted in self-defense. In the immediate aftermath the police investigation was going in the direction of an interrupted burglary that turned violent. However, when investigators looked further into Haffey’s background they discovered that he not only had prior arrests for assault and attempted murder, but that he also worked for Michael Kuhnhausen, Susan’s estranged husband from whom she was in the process of divorce.
Now there is evidence that Michael was upset over the divorce and hired Haffey to kill Susan. Michael Kuhnhausen also bought a gun just prior to this incident and left an apparent suicide note. Allegedly Michael was going to have Susan killed and then take his own life.
This story is but one more example of the axiom, “Truth is stranger than fiction.”
My point of reflection revolves around Susan’s recovery from this ordeal and God. It’s significant enough to deal with the sense of invasion that happens when someone breaks into your home. Add to that attempted murder, then killing a man with your own bare hands as a matter of defense. Then, to top it off, your husband has orchestrated this episode. This trauma is off the charts in terms of recovery.
Susan is an ER nurse and acquainted with trauma and bizarre realities. But, there is a world of difference in maintaining a professional objectivity in your job and coming to grips with multiple personal violations.
I couldn’t find in any of the stories posted if Susan is a follower of Christ. I pray that she is or will be. Her inner life has been ravaged and though medicine and psychology can offer many kinds of help, this life needs a touch from a loving God. Don’t misunderstand; that loving touch isn’t like a magic wand that suddenly and immediately brings transformation. Rather that touch leads to another and another that in process brings healing and wholeness.
10 comments:
Hello Scott-
I think you ought to do a review on the recent movie "Obsession". It is not distributed in USA as of yet, but if you type "obsession jihad movie" you find links to it.
How bout another one,... "Everlasting Hatred" by Hal Lindsey.
It is the hand of God that brings you healing and wholeness. However, remember that when God plants love in your heart there is also the thorn of pain. It is a life process with sometimes we see ourselves going one step forward and three steps backwards. It brings me to we don't run all the time to people to "fix" us, but rather to the saving love of God that awaits us. At times I find that believers cause more pain to a person than the worldly.
I don't quite understand anonymous's comment about "when God plants love in your heart, there is also the thorn of pain." I am not sure if I agree with that statement. I know from personal experience that God can bring grace and forgiveness and a divine healing that is beyond human comprehension, even if that healing does take time and those steps backwards and forwards as we progress.
Larry:
I'll check out your referrals. Thanks.
Anonymous #1 & #2:
Sounds like both of you have had some experience with God's healing touch. I'm grateful. You might say a prayer for Susan.
Appreciate you checking out the blog.
In response to Anonymous #2, allow me to try to explain what I mean by the "thorn of pain", although unless you have experienced it you will not understand. Once God implants love into your heart, you have only one passionate desire, not for the things that God has promised, but rather for Him and Him alone. Other desires might clamour strongly and fiercely nearer the surface of our nature, but you now know that down in the core of your own being you are shaped that nothing will fit, fill or satisfy your heart but God Himself "Nothing else really matters only to love God and to do what He tells you." All the time it is suffering to love and sorrow to love, but it is lovely to love Him in spite of this and if I would cease to do so, I would cease to exist. It is the most exciting journey to be on, yet it is also the most painful tthe "thorn of pain".
Because I have been adopted into God's family, He loans me His perspective and His heart. I have inherited an astute awareness of the suffering that I have been delivered from and have a deep longing and compassion for those who remain in suffering. I am compelled to invite others into God's realm - God's heart is for salvation and until we receive it ourselves, we continue to live in a foreign land apart from God.
Beutiful Feet, I agree with you except where you say God has "loaned" you His heart -- trust me it is not a loan it is for keeps. You are right on the mark that God's heart is for salvation and we are actually only to desire to adore Him that is our purpose, however in adoring Him and if we truly have received salvation, we will also feel the pain and suffering as He does for the lost that have not claimed a personal salvation (relationship). Like I said it is an awesome journey, one full of love, growth, transformation and pain.
One of the most difficult aspects of the gospel message is that Y'shua's invitation of grace and salvation is for victim and victimizer alike. Who will break the status quo of human nature to extend the arm of grace to those who have fallen into murder and scheming murder?
Some claim that acknowledging and loving Y'shua as the sole source of salvation is a narrow path - and that is accurate because it absolutely IS! That's because He loves everyone and we do not.
To the last anonymous post:
Thanks for bringing up the perpetrator. My heart and reflection immediately went out to Susan. Certainly Mike is a broken and wounded person who is in need of redemption and restoration by God.
Broken people do broken things. Wounded people tend to wound others. I pray that God's presence and grace would also come to Mike and draw him to life transformation.
Post a Comment