This afternoon I had a good time with several men who belong to the prison’s Intermediate Care Program where I work on weekdays...
We sat together at a table in the dayroom and spent more than an hour talking about Christ and reading from the Scriptures. I read Psalm 96 to them while the other guys each took a turn to recite a particular Bible passage and discuss it. We had a relaxed time of personal sharing, as well.
It was humbling to listen to Donnie, a sixty-eight year old fellow prisoner describe the feeling of losing many of the members of his family to death, to include a younger brother, and how he was unable to attend any of their funerals because they lived out of state. In New York an inmate can only attend the funeral of an immediate family member if the deceased’s funeral is in New York, and even this is not a guarantee.
Then I heard Jack’s tale of rejection by his immediate family because they could no longer deal with his mental illness and his drinking problem. At the time of his crime Jack was living in a rented room in a cheap hotel. Broke, and out of alcohol, he tried to pull a holdup at a liquor store. For this unlucky loser, however, Jack robbed the very same store where he was a regular customer. And he only lived a few doors down from the store’s entrance, too. Poor Jack! He was caught and arrested within fifteen minutes. His take, about $75, which he never got to spend. And a bottle of Bacardi rum, his favorite, which he never got to drink.
Then Walter spoke briefly about his rape charge, insisting he was “high” on a host of different pills plus cheap wine when he allegedly pounced upon a young woman who was a guest in his house. While in a drugged state, the authorities claimed, Walter tore her clothes off and sexually assaulted her. He told us she was just as stoned as he was, but admitted this was not a valid reason to attack her. The judge gave Walter eight years to think about what he did.
Nevertheless I am always amazed at how the Lord will reveal himself to those who are hurting and broken. How God is merciful to those who’ve made a mess of their lives, like He’s done with Donnie, Jack, and Walter, and with me, too.
As a rule, most people see little need for God. They don’t see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior. Yet within the jails and prisons, men and women are more apt, I believe, to readily admit to their sins and failures. They are, in my opinion, very eager to confess their sins and repent of them, and to ask Jesus Christ for forgiveness. This is a good thing.
D.B.
Note: Donnie, Jack and Walter are not their real names.
It was humbling to listen to Donnie, a sixty-eight year old fellow prisoner describe the feeling of losing many of the members of his family to death, to include a younger brother, and how he was unable to attend any of their funerals because they lived out of state. In New York an inmate can only attend the funeral of an immediate family member if the deceased’s funeral is in New York, and even this is not a guarantee.
Then I heard Jack’s tale of rejection by his immediate family because they could no longer deal with his mental illness and his drinking problem. At the time of his crime Jack was living in a rented room in a cheap hotel. Broke, and out of alcohol, he tried to pull a holdup at a liquor store. For this unlucky loser, however, Jack robbed the very same store where he was a regular customer. And he only lived a few doors down from the store’s entrance, too. Poor Jack! He was caught and arrested within fifteen minutes. His take, about $75, which he never got to spend. And a bottle of Bacardi rum, his favorite, which he never got to drink.
Then Walter spoke briefly about his rape charge, insisting he was “high” on a host of different pills plus cheap wine when he allegedly pounced upon a young woman who was a guest in his house. While in a drugged state, the authorities claimed, Walter tore her clothes off and sexually assaulted her. He told us she was just as stoned as he was, but admitted this was not a valid reason to attack her. The judge gave Walter eight years to think about what he did.
Nevertheless I am always amazed at how the Lord will reveal himself to those who are hurting and broken. How God is merciful to those who’ve made a mess of their lives, like He’s done with Donnie, Jack, and Walter, and with me, too.
As a rule, most people see little need for God. They don’t see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior. Yet within the jails and prisons, men and women are more apt, I believe, to readily admit to their sins and failures. They are, in my opinion, very eager to confess their sins and repent of them, and to ask Jesus Christ for forgiveness. This is a good thing.
D.B.
Note: Donnie, Jack and Walter are not their real names.
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