In Prison

Many of us have been in prison, not incarcerated but as visitors. But some know what it is like to be not only a prisoner but to be incarcerated. One of my earliest experiences was with a youth group at Christmas time many eons ago. The girl's quartet sang and one of them, a rather heavy-set person, introduced the girls. She said they were together in a store where there was a scale. As each stepped on the scale, a lovely voice said, 124 pounds. Then she stepped on the scale and a gruff voice spoke up, One at a time, please. The mood changed dramatically and as I spoke, it was one of the easiest audiences one could wish for.

My senior moment now is my pleasure in working with Crossroad, a ministry to those who are incarcerated. My role is to check a Bible Study sent to me and correct it, write a friendly, encouraging letter to the inmate and return it to the sender. Those who have been with the program for some time sing its praises. I am just getting started. Quarterly, we are sent a small booklet of art and poetry created by inmates from all over the country. Only their first name and last initial and their State is given. Here are five excerpts.

Santa Biblia! Para mi Eres un tesoro aqui. Holy Bible, For me You are a treasure.

Well isn't it weird, I thought to myself As I sit here in jail, all I own on one shelf …

I'm forced by the silence and relive what I have done And to countdown my sentence each day one by one…I may be locked up and I may be locked down But I'll always be free where God's hands are around.

Only God can judge me for what I have done. I live everyday in here, seeking a place to run. But coming to terms as my life is shown, This is not the life that I can call my own.

Lord, through it all I learned to trust in you. There are good days and hard days but You've always seen me through …I place my hope in You, my God, Because in You, I can live still.

Senior Moments can come from the most unexpected sources. And they do.