Prison

The women I minister to twice a month are in prison. Because of choices they've made they are being punished and have been sentenced to prison. What strikes me as odd, is how many of us live our lives as if we are in prison as well. We enjoy freedoms that these women can only dream about...and yet we often drift from day to day as if we have no choices.
We are held prisoners by our past. We hold onto things and let them consume us. Because of old bad relationships---we don't let positive new ones in. Because of old habits we can't believe we've been freed from---we fall prey to repeating them.
We are held prisoners by our fears. If we think that we are the odd man out and as such we interact with others that way---it's not a suprise that we will often feel that we are on the outside looking in. If we think that we are doomed to fail---it's not a surprise that we then do.
We are held prisoners by our anger. We allow ourselves to be filled with hate and in doing so kill the love that might have grown. We allow ourselves to be filled with disgust and in doing so kill the joy that might have grown.

Another thing that strikes me when I think about the inmates is how so many people do not even ever think about them. Because they have broken the law....because they are criminals...they aren't worth their time. Or even worse to me...they are so off of their radar that they've never even entered their mind. 24,000+ inmates in the state of WI...mothers, fathers, daughters, sons. Does their crime make them devoid of a soul? Does their crime make them less human than the rest of us? If the answer to those questions is no...then why do we not care what happens to them while they are in prison? Most inmates are getting out. They will be returning to families, friends, lives...now, if you don't know me-please don't think that I live with rose colored glasses on. Are there precautions that we need to take to ensure safety---of course. Are there support systems that need to be in place to make sure that they don't end up back in---of course. But who do we think is going to do that? Who is going to love the "unlovable"? Maybe you.

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3