FAMILIES SHARING HOPE
  • Blog
  • Resource Links
  • Books
    • News to Make You Weep
  • Prayer Requests
  • Contact
  • Connecting with Community

then how are we different from the world?

6/30/2015

0 Comments

 
So often we complain about traffic or a line at the grocery store or a cranky boss or unfriendly neighbor. But for someone whose existence is wholly prescribed by prison rules or jail cells they would be grateful to be driving or shopping or working or living in a neighborhood. We take so many things for granted in this world, filled up and overflowing as it is with blessings great and small.

And for someone returning to the free world after months or years or decades in prison, the things we find routine can be filled with uncertainty of how things have changed and how they are expected to act. They have not opened a door or window while they have been away. They have not been the first person to see a letter or card addressed to them, and they may have missed a card altogether because it had glitter or added parts that did not meet the necessary prison guidelines. They are often challenged by the very foods they have been longing for because few prisons have much budget for spices. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a rarity. Flowers tend to be limited to prisons with horticulture programs and pets to prisons with dog rehabilitation programs.

How would it be to come out of prison with no one waiting, no place to stay, no one who is willing to offer even the most basic employment, no church who offers the fellowship of all believers? And this is not a short-term situation as broken families, uncertain landlords, worried employers and frightened churches are slow to lend a hand up for multiple reasons both valid and invalid.

We speak of "paying a debt to society" but our fears help increase the likelihood of someone, even someone who comes to faith in prison, being soon attracted to old friends, old stomping grounds and old ways of coping with sadness, want and despair. If church people don't really believe in redemption, renewal and restoration, then how are we different from the world?
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    CHECK IT OUT:
    BOOKS TAB 
    ​News Tab


    For information on meetings use the "contact" button above or call Jann @ 816-896-9815


    Author

    Jann's son was incarcerated.  She longed for a community where she could connect with others dealing with similar issues.

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    January 2023
    April 2022
    March 2022
    July 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.