It was the day before vacation, wrapped up in the busyness of the day; I was deep into planning mode. Errands, packing, and cleaning, set the tone for the better part of my day. Somewhere in the midst of my to-do-list, I sensed a prompting in my spirit to check my email. This task was low on my priority list. Nonetheless, without giving it further thought, I quickly scanned through my email inbox. It wasn’t long before I noticed an urgent email. It was the Chaplin, from the prison where I minister, asking me if I could possibly check up on a prisoner later that evening. Although, this was NOT on my to-do-list, I unquestionably replied YES! Little did I know, God was interrupting my daily plan, for His higher purpose.
Later in the day, as promised, I headed out. As I went behind the wire, I sensed a heaviness surrounding me. I prayed and proceeded to my destination. Once crossing over into the prison environment, experience has taught me to always be prepared for the unexpected. This day was no different.
I met with a prisoner who was noticeably downcast in spirit. The day was bright, yet her world seemed dark. There were people nearby, yet she felt lonely. Laughter could be heard, yet she shed tears. She sat in a pit of despair, being buried under shame, guilt and condemnation. Desperately wanting to break free, but not knowing how. Paralyzed from seeing any hope for her future. Painful memories, along with the daily challenges of life behind the wire, had caused the perfect storm to strike in her heart. Continue Reading