Tim Williams, whose longtime friend Brian Jennings was among the four people killed by affluenza teen Ethan Couchs drunken driving in 2013, forgave Couch long before their first jail-house visit.
Now, after meeting with him almost weekly for two years, Williams believes Couch will leave jail April 2 a different person. Formerly an immature, entitled and reckless teen, the 20-year-old has slowly become someone who wants to take responsibility, follow instructions, do the next right thing.
Since his deadly joyride, Couch has too often made international news for all the wrong reasons. Whether he can turn his life around is an open question. But the bond that has developed between Williams and Couch offers authentic lessons in mercy, reconciliation and forgiveness.
Williams first became friends with Brian Jennings when they were young teens at Crestmont Baptist Church in Burleson. They started college together at Howard Payne University. Each served as best man in the others wedding.
Jennings unexpected death, amid the unspeakable carnage caused by 16-year-old Couch, devastated Williams. He struggled with questions about the injustice of it all, including the first judges decision to grant Couch probation. But, as Williams told us in an interview Thursday, I didnt want unforgiveness hanging on me like a set of heavy chains.
So through prayer, he tried his mightiest to come to grips with the idea that this tragedy both the deaths and the shocking verdict could be turned on its head for good. As he healed, Williams, a former youth pastor, also worked as a volunteer chaplain in family court.
Fast forward a couple of years, to 2016 when Couch finally faced real consequences: After breaking probation and fleeing to Mexico, he wound up sentenced to two years in jail.
For reasons Williams didnt even understand himself, he experienced an intense internal calling to visit with Couch. That began an excruciatingly slow and oftentimes draining attempt to get Couch to open up.
Williams describes it like this: If you imagine building a house with 20,000 bricks, one visit with Ethan might put two or three bricks in the wall.
Among the work they did together was to focus on the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, with its instructions on rebuilding a broken life.
Williams, the father of two sons and two stepsons, hasnt hesitated to provide parenting lessons he feels Couch needs to hear. Excuses, dishonesty and blame games dont cut it with the Mansfield resident.
And they talked a lot about forgiveness, both in its biblical sense and Williams own change of heart toward Couch.
Its tempting to paint Williams, who runs the Reconciliation Institute nonprofit, as a saint who has provided a measure of grace to an unsympathetic character. But none of us Williams included are naturally inclined to forgive. Blame and censure are far easier accessed.
Thats what makes the continuing relationship between Ethan Couch and Tim Williams all the more inspiring, reminding the rest of us of the possibilities that come out of generous and merciful choices.
The Dallas
