This morning, I was able to finish my work assignment early...
Which allowed me the chance to go to the recreation yard for about an hour.
Fortunately, the outdoor yard was not as crowded as it normally is during the weekends or during the night hours, because on weekdays most of the prisoners are at their work assignments or in school.
And after what seemed like endless weeks of hot and humid weather, today was perfect. There was no humidity, and the sky was a deep blue decorated with dozens of powder white clouds.
For me, today was also a day of spiritual productivity. God, I know, allowed me to go to the yard with a purpose, even though when I first went outside I had no specific plan other than to get some fresh air.
I had been walking for only a short time when I ran into "Brother Charles," an elderly black man who uses a special walking cane to navigate. He has health problems, and he hasn’t been attending chapel services like he used to. So we talked for a while and I tried to encourage him with God’s word. Charlie said, as our conversation came to an end, that he would try to make it to church this coming Sunday.
After this, I met up with "Willie." As with many of the men who are doing a life sentence - he has to do at least thirty years - Willie was feeling depressed because, he told me, his family stopped coming to see him.
Willie dejectedly said that for the past few years his family has been promising to pay him a visit on both Christmas and Easter, but they never show up.
I told Willie that, when all is said and done, it’s about Jesus Christ. He’s the only one who’s promised never to leave or forsake us, and Jesus keeps His word.
Many times, I went on to say, well-meaning people will make promises to do certain things, but they will fail to keep their word. But not so with the Lord Jesus, I said. He will stay with us forever.
D.B.
Note: “Brother Charles” and “Willie” are not their real names.
Fortunately, the outdoor yard was not as crowded as it normally is during the weekends or during the night hours, because on weekdays most of the prisoners are at their work assignments or in school.
And after what seemed like endless weeks of hot and humid weather, today was perfect. There was no humidity, and the sky was a deep blue decorated with dozens of powder white clouds.
For me, today was also a day of spiritual productivity. God, I know, allowed me to go to the yard with a purpose, even though when I first went outside I had no specific plan other than to get some fresh air.
I had been walking for only a short time when I ran into "Brother Charles," an elderly black man who uses a special walking cane to navigate. He has health problems, and he hasn’t been attending chapel services like he used to. So we talked for a while and I tried to encourage him with God’s word. Charlie said, as our conversation came to an end, that he would try to make it to church this coming Sunday.
After this, I met up with "Willie." As with many of the men who are doing a life sentence - he has to do at least thirty years - Willie was feeling depressed because, he told me, his family stopped coming to see him.
Willie dejectedly said that for the past few years his family has been promising to pay him a visit on both Christmas and Easter, but they never show up.
I told Willie that, when all is said and done, it’s about Jesus Christ. He’s the only one who’s promised never to leave or forsake us, and Jesus keeps His word.
Many times, I went on to say, well-meaning people will make promises to do certain things, but they will fail to keep their word. But not so with the Lord Jesus, I said. He will stay with us forever.
D.B.
Note: “Brother Charles” and “Willie” are not their real names.
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