This is the second part of a theme I began to develop yesterday...
This being how the element of "time" might affect a man in confinement, either for better or worse. Either his heart will harden more and more, or as in the process of erosion, time can be a powerful force that will allow for the softening of one's heart to eventually allow for honest soul-searching and self-reflection, which are necessary for some kind of positive transformation to come forth.
Yesterday I discussed the hardening effect of time on some, while for many other prisoners it may have the opposite effect. Just as waves of water beat relentlessly upon rocks causing them to erode over time, the grinding effect of time may allow for the tough outer layers of one's heart to be swept away, thus allowing a once closed heart to be open and exposed.
I believe, too, that as a man goes through the process of soul-searching, which can be emotionally painful, he may reach a stage of self-disgust and self-loathing. This happened to me, and it's not as bad as it sounds. For it is at this point where he hates the person he's become. He realizes he's made bad choices, hurt others, and has thrown away much of his life as he sits in a lonely prison cell.
This can be the first step on the road to change and transformation. He's ready to renounce his criminal ways and wants to change for the better. In his heart and mind, he knows for certain that he's done living a selfish and criminally minded lifestyle. He's had enough of being a thug.
The state of self-loathing and disgust can be a good place, because now you're ready to go in a new direction. You wish to start a new life. I've known this to happen to others, and it's happened to me. In my case, it was the first step in deciding to repent and turn from my sinful and self-destructive ways. It was at this point that I prayed to God for help and sought His forgiveness (you can read my personal testimony or watch my video interviews on this website). This is when I turned to Christ, and my life has never been the same.
D.B.
Yesterday I discussed the hardening effect of time on some, while for many other prisoners it may have the opposite effect. Just as waves of water beat relentlessly upon rocks causing them to erode over time, the grinding effect of time may allow for the tough outer layers of one's heart to be swept away, thus allowing a once closed heart to be open and exposed.
I believe, too, that as a man goes through the process of soul-searching, which can be emotionally painful, he may reach a stage of self-disgust and self-loathing. This happened to me, and it's not as bad as it sounds. For it is at this point where he hates the person he's become. He realizes he's made bad choices, hurt others, and has thrown away much of his life as he sits in a lonely prison cell.
This can be the first step on the road to change and transformation. He's ready to renounce his criminal ways and wants to change for the better. In his heart and mind, he knows for certain that he's done living a selfish and criminally minded lifestyle. He's had enough of being a thug.
The state of self-loathing and disgust can be a good place, because now you're ready to go in a new direction. You wish to start a new life. I've known this to happen to others, and it's happened to me. In my case, it was the first step in deciding to repent and turn from my sinful and self-destructive ways. It was at this point that I prayed to God for help and sought His forgiveness (you can read my personal testimony or watch my video interviews on this website). This is when I turned to Christ, and my life has never been the same.
D.B.
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