Diary Of A Prison Visit, Part 1
Yesterday I visited a couple of folks in the county jail. They have actually been there for several months, and I should have seen them sooner. But these are two people whose obscene behavior and calculated abuses of religion particularly frustrate me. So I’ve put off the visits. I know they have wanted me to come see them, and I guess my silent message has been that they are surely not fooling me, that I am on to their games. And in my heart I know such is not a worthy way to treat others, especially such that are hurting and whom Christ specifically instructs me to visit. So, this time, I followed through with the appointments.
The minds of these two persons are strange and even fascinating. Many who find themselves in prison are simply stupid. But these are intelligent individuals. However, they use their smarts in stupid ways. They manage rather easily to manipulate and use others, and to readily excuse their own foibles. They process information and life experience differently from normal people. That is why they are in jail. They need help, they need transformation.
Now, as you can probably tell, I am angry at these two. I find them fascinating, but even more do I find them irritating. But this day I will try to interact with as much compassion and as little judgment as possible. Sometimes I do o.k. with such endeavor. However, I have been staying up late every night this week. And for me, lack of sleep puts a hard edge to my capacity to filter interaction with others. It makes me a bit less patient and a tad more direct. In other words, give me a couple of nights with little sleep and I become a Yankee.
So, I enter the huge prison facility for my shakedown. And I’m in no mood for grumpy security guards. However, they carry night sticks. I only have a flimsy little chaplain’s card.
...to be continued...
07.10.08 (5:07 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
barnabus1 (
reply)
post date:
07.10.08 (3:29 pm)
I'm hoping the Lord gives you just the right words that are needed for these folks!! He knows you sometimes need to touch hard hearts!!!
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
07.10.08 (4:08 pm)
then, on the other hand, I am with ya on the short of charitableness department...
posted by:
squirrelzone (
reply)
post date:
07.10.08 (5:50 pm)
I myself find it interesting to watch them interact inside the prison walls. It's a secret society filled with violence and manipulation.
I agree that most are smart yet lack either common sense or social skills. It's insane what they do to wind up in jail or prison.
I tell them to stop bumping their head. What you're doing is crazy. What's the diffenition of crazy? It's continually doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different result.
Stop what you're doing. Trust in the lord and seek help. Obviously what you're doing is wrong, there are proven ways of walking the straight an narrow.
Just ask
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
07.11.08 (12:15 pm)
Admit it, you only go for the cavity searches!
Is it really worthwhile visiting them unless they are repentant and want to change their wicked ways?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.11.08 (2:47 pm)
Reply to: barnabus1
I don't know that any particular words will make a lasting difference. At best, I hope to contribute to a team effort to move someone toward a better life. I'm troubled that religion, and particularly the Christian faith, seems so easily adopted into their situations and yet prove not to make much of a lasting difference. It's called "jailhouse religion". I'm a firm believer that personal crisis can be used of God to turn one to Him. Yet, it needs to be a lasting matter and not simply a convenient and temporary conversion.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.11.08 (2:50 pm)
Reply to: fractalmom
"...short of charitableness department..."
Usually I'm able to treat others with grace and kindness. Except sometimes when I am tired and grumpy and have trouble dealing with what I discern as foolishness and manipulation. Such is not very Christlike, I guess.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.11.08 (2:51 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
Ministry is most about presence, I think. When the person comes to understand you truly care, then perhaps he will listen to what you have to say. Perhaps...
I guess some, indeed, do have an affinity for cavity searches?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.11.08 (2:54 pm)
Reply to: squirrelzone
I defer to your considerably greater knowledge. I take note that you consider it to be a society filled with violence and manipulation. Generally, when I visit with someone, he/she speaks quite convincingly about how well he is doing in his service to the Lord while in prison. I suspect, sadly, that it is most often a con job. How can a person so readily turn on and then turn off his religion? I guess such is a characteristic of why these people find themselves in prison?
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
07.12.08 (7:05 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
yeah. Course, if we were like Jesus, the world would be a much nicer place. Besides, it gives us something to strive for and we all need goals eh?
