Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day...
Psalm 91:5
We are in the thick of summer now, and it is sweltering...
Psalm 91:5
We are in the thick of summer now, and it is sweltering...
During this time of year there always seems to be more tension within the facility. I suppose it is due to a combination of the heat, restless energy among the prisoners, tempers that flare with the rising thermometer, and a change in the prison population.
We have a younger and wilder group of men here now. There is always a turnover of inmates in prison, with some who have been here for a while, getting transferred, and new prisoners coming in. This means getting to know new men, feeling them out, and seeing what they're about. And for many of the older inmates like me, this means being more cautious around prisoners we don't know.
Prison life is just like that, with men I've come to know moving on to other facilities or being paroled, even as new ones come in. So the process of socialization must start all over again. In this environment, where there is so little trust and so much suspicion, that is no easy task.
One thing I have noticed about many of the younger men who are coming into the prison system these days, is that they have so much hatred that it seems to seethe right out of their pores. They're noticeably angrier and more frustrated than many of us "old timers" were when we first arrived. Of course, only those who have lived in such an environment as this can fully understand what I am talking about, or be able to feel the vibes and tension in the air.
We Christian brothers have been through these cycles before, and we are praying for the peace of this prison. We are also praying that any explosive situations that might occur will quickly and peaceably be diffused. In addition, we are praying that God's love will begin to touch these hard hearts.
I've been through many prison summers, and I know, as I meditate on God's promises in Psalm 91, the Lord will keep me safe through yet another one.
D.B.
We have a younger and wilder group of men here now. There is always a turnover of inmates in prison, with some who have been here for a while, getting transferred, and new prisoners coming in. This means getting to know new men, feeling them out, and seeing what they're about. And for many of the older inmates like me, this means being more cautious around prisoners we don't know.
Prison life is just like that, with men I've come to know moving on to other facilities or being paroled, even as new ones come in. So the process of socialization must start all over again. In this environment, where there is so little trust and so much suspicion, that is no easy task.
One thing I have noticed about many of the younger men who are coming into the prison system these days, is that they have so much hatred that it seems to seethe right out of their pores. They're noticeably angrier and more frustrated than many of us "old timers" were when we first arrived. Of course, only those who have lived in such an environment as this can fully understand what I am talking about, or be able to feel the vibes and tension in the air.
We Christian brothers have been through these cycles before, and we are praying for the peace of this prison. We are also praying that any explosive situations that might occur will quickly and peaceably be diffused. In addition, we are praying that God's love will begin to touch these hard hearts.
I've been through many prison summers, and I know, as I meditate on God's promises in Psalm 91, the Lord will keep me safe through yet another one.
D.B.