Having notoriety brings with it a fair share of problems...
With the number one problem being false friends.
All throughout my four decades of incarceration, I’ve had to deal with those who would try to befriend me so as to ultimately take advantage of me. Therefore I’d always try to be cautious as to whom I reply to via letters, and whom I will allow into my life. Sometimes I’d get it right, and sometimes not.
I want to be as vigilant as possible when it comes to matters such as correspondence., and whenever I'd discover such an individual, I will not reply to their letters. If I have already exchanged correspondence with them, I would then seek to gracefully disengage from further
communication or contact.
Understandably, I will make attempts to discern, as best I can, the motives of others. This is to protect myself as well as safeguard the integrity of my testimony as a Christian because the reality is that there are, unfortunately, those who seek contact with me hoping for financial gain, as in the selling of letters, or autographs, or to have a souvenir of some kind. While others seek fame for themselves.
I wish to say, however, that I’ve no animosity or anger towards those who want to use me, or who already have.
The way I see it, we're all human and people do yield to temptation at times, but the best blessing is that over the years, I have made many wonderful friends who’ve repeatedly shown themselves to be trustworthy. Some whom I have now known for decades. They’ve never misused me. Instead, they have stuck with me, prayed for me, and encouraged me whenever I had to face a challenging situation. I consider them to be gifts from God. I’m thankful to have them in my life, and I’m a better person because of them.
D. B.
All throughout my four decades of incarceration, I’ve had to deal with those who would try to befriend me so as to ultimately take advantage of me. Therefore I’d always try to be cautious as to whom I reply to via letters, and whom I will allow into my life. Sometimes I’d get it right, and sometimes not.
I want to be as vigilant as possible when it comes to matters such as correspondence., and whenever I'd discover such an individual, I will not reply to their letters. If I have already exchanged correspondence with them, I would then seek to gracefully disengage from further
communication or contact.
Understandably, I will make attempts to discern, as best I can, the motives of others. This is to protect myself as well as safeguard the integrity of my testimony as a Christian because the reality is that there are, unfortunately, those who seek contact with me hoping for financial gain, as in the selling of letters, or autographs, or to have a souvenir of some kind. While others seek fame for themselves.
I wish to say, however, that I’ve no animosity or anger towards those who want to use me, or who already have.
The way I see it, we're all human and people do yield to temptation at times, but the best blessing is that over the years, I have made many wonderful friends who’ve repeatedly shown themselves to be trustworthy. Some whom I have now known for decades. They’ve never misused me. Instead, they have stuck with me, prayed for me, and encouraged me whenever I had to face a challenging situation. I consider them to be gifts from God. I’m thankful to have them in my life, and I’m a better person because of them.
D. B.
