Aging is yet another factor that most people don't consider when thinking about the long term affects of imprisonment. Everyone grows old. But being in prison, I think, makes the aging process happen faster...
|
Long-term confinement takes a toll on the emotional health of prisoners. Incarceration in and of itself is a hardship. It's designed to be. However, even beyond the obvious factors such as living in a noisy, violence prone environment and having to be confined to a small space, there are the unseen psychological components which most people who think of correctional facilities don't even consider...
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting
to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children. Psalm 103:17 Yesterday was very special. I had a visit with my friend, Mike. He came with his pastor and two young men, both of whom had permission from their parents to visit. "John-John" and "Ronnie" are from Long Island... Earlier today I wrote a letter to my friend, Mica, who helps direct Just Released Ministries in Chicago, Illinois. Mica has a desire to help prisoners and their families...
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 The chapel had fifty-three men in attendance this morning. I know that, whether it is a Sunday, or any other day, many prisoners live with overwhelming dejection... For whether we live, we live unto the Lord;
and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. Romans 14:8 A church group from New Jersey was here this evening. They've been coming in to the prison every third Saturday of each month for at least fifteen years or more. They are greatly loved by the men, and we appreciate their sacrifice... He had been waiting for this day for twenty-five years. But in his case it was not a release from prison in the sense of completing one's sentence for a past crime...
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1 I don't know why it was labeled a "Retreat." I suppose it is because there's no accurate name for it. But today, in the prison's chapel, we had a special gathering which consisted of approximately 40 men from our church, along with fifteen lay ministers, also know as "civilian volunteers..." |
AuthorDavid Berkowitz |
RSS Feed