“This Guy’s Snapped”

Jason

Many years ago, Mike Rinder came to check on a number of matters that my Church organization was working on, as some of it had to do with his job in public affairs for the Church. I was overseeing a project he was coming to check on. I spotted him as he came down a hallway. I was on the left side of the L-shaped hallway, and he was on the right. As we met, I could see that he was very, very angry. I don’t know exactly what he was angry about—he was angry a lot.

He saw me and asked about the project. As I was explaining it to him, he exploded. I’m telling you, this is as clear as the day is daylight at noon, he took both his hands and shoved me against the wall.

Now, Mike’s taller than me—I’m not the tallest guy. I’m 5' 7". I’m not a big guy but I consider myself pretty tough; I can take a lot. But he is about 6' or so. And he shoved me right against the wall and had both his thumbs in my neck. He was screaming at me at the top of his lungs and there was saliva coming out of his mouth.

I’ve been yelled at before, but this was pretty nasty. I’d never actually been choked before. I’d never actually been pinned against a wall and had my head slammed into it, all while being screamed at.

I had my hands on his wrists, trying to pry him off, but he was really pissed. And in my mind I was thinking, “This guy’s snapped.”

I have to say, it is the only time in my life I have ever been choked and so hard that I could not breathe. And I was catching my breath for ten to fifteen minutes after that. I could not have a conversation.

I have never had that happen to me before. It was a shocking experience for me and had a lasting impression.