For the 11th time, the day after President’s Day gives me cause to reflect.  Reflect on the events of the previous day, reflect on the diligence and creativity of those I work with, and reflect on the enormity of the child abuse problem in Dallas County.

Every single day in Dallas County, children are savaged and betrayed by those…close enough to kiss them…yet too evil to be nurturing, too evil to be compassionate, too evil to be parents.  The Beast.  Last night in Dallas County, almost 4,000 children could not go home because it was not safe.  The Beast.  And with a growing population, the problem gets worse and worse as more and more kids are confronted with The Beast.

In this same place, there is another reflection.  The collection of professionals known as Dallas CASA wake up every day to confront The Beast.  The Beauty.  They see the worst of mankind almost every day, and yet they keep coming back, day after day after day.  The Beauty.  They find singular successes in the midst of thousands of horrors and they tuck those away to draw upon that strength the next time they see The Beast.  They are The Beauty.

So, that’s where I am today.  Sitting with The Beauty and The Beast.  Not strong enough, not powerful enough, not rich enough, to kill The Beast.  Thanking God daily that The Beauty stands up and shows up every day to take one away from The Beast.  And wondering.  How does it end?  When does it end?  Will it end? 

At last week’s Dallas CASA board meeting, the Exec. Dir. Beverly Levy told six stories of kids just taken out of their homes.  The stories were gut wrenching.  And when she was finished, I was supposed to stand up and be cheerleader for the coming tournament and Archon success.  I crumbled.  For the first time, I could not stand and do the cheer, not because I was not so proud of Archon and the tournament, but simply because my heart ached.  Right there, for the first time, I saw The Beast.  And I will never be the same.

I don’t know how to answer the questions I posed earlier.  But I do know this.  Yesterday, President’s Day, Beauty showed up.  Over 100 of your peers showed up to do a Beautiful thing.  And when the last stroke was swung, the last beverage consumed, and at the last round of applause, a check, a Beautiful check stood tall.  $1,000,000.  ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

Can a million dollars kill The Beast?  No, but it will expand Beauty so that more and more kids find safe and permanent homes.  So thanks to all of you who played, volunteered, caddied, registered, planned and gave money.  Your actions, your love, will make a Beautiful difference in the lives of hundreds of kids…

And what to do with The Beast?  In that last moment, each night, before you drift off to sleep, pray that God will change the heart of the beast.  It is our only real hope.  And I pray that every night. 

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Woody T. McMinn
Chief Administrative Officer