Orlando is a man destitute of material goods, but who is rich in spiritual things. He loves God. He leads a simple life. Like me, Orlando has lived much of his adult life in prison...
Orlando is Hispanic, and he's in his late forties. He came to prison when he was twenty-one years old. A street corner and roof top drinker who lived with his mother in a New York City tenement, he stabbed a man to death. Orlando doesn't remember why it happened. He doesn't remember much about the incident or what led up to it, other than his being drunk, and the victim was equally drunk. Orlando told me he had gotten angry about something his drinking companion said, then out came the knife.
Orlando is not a violent person, however. Maybe he had a different personality when he would drink? But in the many years that I've known him and observed him, I've never seen Orlando act violently. For the most part, he's quiet and he minds his own business. He has no interest in gambling, drugs or gangs.
Like many prisoners, Orlando has only a limited education. He's also classified as having a mental illness and is presently undergoing treatment by the facility's Mental Health staff. He does, however, love to read his Bible and he attends many of our worship services and Bible studies. And every time he walks through the doors of the prison's chapel, he gets greeted with lots of hugs and handshakes from his fellow Christians.
Orlando is hyperactive and he loves to talk. Sometimes he would talk so fast that it becomes difficult to understand what he's saying. His words would get jumbled together. And when he does this, I'd have to gently ask Orlando to slow down and repeat himself. Oftentimes, when speaking about Christ, he would get so excited that, while moving his lips at such a rapid pace, spittle would begin to form at the corners of his mouth. When this happens Orlando would wipe the saliva from his lips with the sleeve of his shirt with one swift wipe. Then he would resume chatting away.
Orlando has very few personal items in his cell. His possessions consist of his prison issued uniform clothes, to include a green Department of Corrections issued sweat-shirt and a matching winter coat plus the standard issue or three pairs of white socks and underwear. I've never observed him wearing a personal shirt, as many inmates own at least one dress shirt. In addition, in his cell are a few Bibles, some writing tablets along with a handful of pencils and pens. His cell, which is located in the mental health cell block where I work on weekdays, looks like a monk's liar. Orlando chooses to travel light. All his possessions, if he had to gather everything together, would probably fit in a medium size suitcase.
He doesn't want anything either. I recall a time, several years ago, when I gave Orlando a few extra polo type shirts that I had. But he ended up giving them away. He likes being a pauper. When I offer him things like soap or socks he always turns me down.
Well today I was happy when I went to the recreation yard and found Orlando there. He doesn't go to the yard very often. And he seemed happy to see me, too. So Orlando and I spent approximately 90 minutes walking in circles around the yard's perimeter. In prison parlance, this is called "Taking a spin," or "Spinning the yard."
Of course Orlando and I spoke about our favorite subject: Jesus! He was his usual talkative self. Orlando's like a ball of energy that's perpetually in motion. His hands will fly every which way when he speaks. Sometimes I'd have to put a hand up to slow him down so he could catch his breath. And my ears need a few seconds of rest every now and then as well.
In spite of his quirks, however, Orlando is a nice person. I'll probably see him in church tomorrow, too. He attends almost every Sunday. And as one might expect, Orlando loves to praise the Lord with a loud voice. He worships God as excitedly as he talks -- with lots of energy and outward exuberance. His joy is evident. Orlando also likes to shout the word "Hallelujah!" while most other parishioners will sit in church looking lost and bewildered. Such are the ways of God. The Lord will often use the foolish to confound and humble those who are proud.
Orlando lives a simple life. In all the years he has spent in prison, Orlando has not allowed his circumstances to darken his spirit or dim his hope in Jesus Christ.
D.B.
Orlando is not a violent person, however. Maybe he had a different personality when he would drink? But in the many years that I've known him and observed him, I've never seen Orlando act violently. For the most part, he's quiet and he minds his own business. He has no interest in gambling, drugs or gangs.
Like many prisoners, Orlando has only a limited education. He's also classified as having a mental illness and is presently undergoing treatment by the facility's Mental Health staff. He does, however, love to read his Bible and he attends many of our worship services and Bible studies. And every time he walks through the doors of the prison's chapel, he gets greeted with lots of hugs and handshakes from his fellow Christians.
Orlando is hyperactive and he loves to talk. Sometimes he would talk so fast that it becomes difficult to understand what he's saying. His words would get jumbled together. And when he does this, I'd have to gently ask Orlando to slow down and repeat himself. Oftentimes, when speaking about Christ, he would get so excited that, while moving his lips at such a rapid pace, spittle would begin to form at the corners of his mouth. When this happens Orlando would wipe the saliva from his lips with the sleeve of his shirt with one swift wipe. Then he would resume chatting away.
Orlando has very few personal items in his cell. His possessions consist of his prison issued uniform clothes, to include a green Department of Corrections issued sweat-shirt and a matching winter coat plus the standard issue or three pairs of white socks and underwear. I've never observed him wearing a personal shirt, as many inmates own at least one dress shirt. In addition, in his cell are a few Bibles, some writing tablets along with a handful of pencils and pens. His cell, which is located in the mental health cell block where I work on weekdays, looks like a monk's liar. Orlando chooses to travel light. All his possessions, if he had to gather everything together, would probably fit in a medium size suitcase.
He doesn't want anything either. I recall a time, several years ago, when I gave Orlando a few extra polo type shirts that I had. But he ended up giving them away. He likes being a pauper. When I offer him things like soap or socks he always turns me down.
Well today I was happy when I went to the recreation yard and found Orlando there. He doesn't go to the yard very often. And he seemed happy to see me, too. So Orlando and I spent approximately 90 minutes walking in circles around the yard's perimeter. In prison parlance, this is called "Taking a spin," or "Spinning the yard."
Of course Orlando and I spoke about our favorite subject: Jesus! He was his usual talkative self. Orlando's like a ball of energy that's perpetually in motion. His hands will fly every which way when he speaks. Sometimes I'd have to put a hand up to slow him down so he could catch his breath. And my ears need a few seconds of rest every now and then as well.
In spite of his quirks, however, Orlando is a nice person. I'll probably see him in church tomorrow, too. He attends almost every Sunday. And as one might expect, Orlando loves to praise the Lord with a loud voice. He worships God as excitedly as he talks -- with lots of energy and outward exuberance. His joy is evident. Orlando also likes to shout the word "Hallelujah!" while most other parishioners will sit in church looking lost and bewildered. Such are the ways of God. The Lord will often use the foolish to confound and humble those who are proud.
Orlando lives a simple life. In all the years he has spent in prison, Orlando has not allowed his circumstances to darken his spirit or dim his hope in Jesus Christ.
D.B.
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