Dare They Hope?.....

One of the first things that you never forget is the sound of the iron door closing behind you. It is a sound that cannot be compared to any other sound that I've ever heard. Visiting the prisons, correctional centers, rehab and recovery centers has been something that I have done for over 20 years. From local prisons, men and women, to maximum security, the iron door that closes behind me always sounds the same.

Whether I am doing a “Crime Impact Class”, teaching on “Mercy and Accountability”; or teaching a lesson on going from “Victim to Victor”, it is what I see in the eyes of the inmates as I talk to them that impacts me the most. I tell them my story.

Many have read my books and have greeted me by name when I visit.

Strange as it may seem, rarely if ever, have I heard any of them try to justify their incarceration. But it is just as strange to see the puzzled look on their faces, when you dare offer them the hope that their life can change. But, oh the joy that enters my heart, when I see that look change, and tears come down their faces in brokenness. Dare they hope? I tell them “yes”.

I remember so many stories throughout my work. I have visited and spoken over 100 times at multiple prisons, rehabs and recoveries throughout the years and across the country. One man in a Virginia facility spoke up one time and said, “You told me something today, that no one has ever told me. You told me that I matter. He continued on, trying to stay tough and not let his emotions show, “My dad said that I was a nothing, that I'd always be a nothing, and that I'd end up in prison. But you told me that I mattered.”

And I do try to tell them that, every time, amidst my talk. That they matter to a Jesus who loves them. A Jesus that I met so long ago as a broken child. A Jesus who told me that I mattered. Every life deserves a chance. Some of us have had more than one given to us. We cannot fix what is broken. But oh, to know a God who can. To share that blessed Hope with those who have never known, brings me great joy. I spoke at the Lebanon County Prison on Monday evening and spoke to the women at the Muncy State Correctional Center on Wednesday of this week. Attached are just a few pictures of my journey along with my books. We reach a heart one person at a time and God does the rest. Be blessed my friends.