Earlier this summer, Richard Beck at Experimental Theology posted about the challenges of studying the Beatitudes with the Bible study group he leads in a men’s prison. Considering the risks of nonviolent compassion in a place ruled by the law of the jungle, he realized afresh how much it can really cost to be a follower of Christ. An excerpt:
…Week to week, as you lead a bible study with prisoners, you can come to believe that this is the most holy, devout, and saintly bunch of Christians you’ve ever seen. This is, incidentally, one of the joys of prison ministry, how nice, grateful and cooperative the men are. You’ll never have a better audience.
But I know that this is a bit of an illusion. To be sure, the men are grateful. The time they have with us is, perhaps, the only non-coercive, relaxed and egalitarian interaction they have during the week. So they are truly grateful and happy to be a part of the bible study. And many have become committed followers of Jesus.
Still, for the most part I know that the devoutness on display during the bible study is hiding a great deal of darkness. And we don’t talk much about that darkness. At least not in our bible study. But I knew it was there and I wanted to try to talk about it a bit before reading the Beatitudes.
So I waited. And asked again, “Inside the prison, who is blessed?”
Finally, a man answered:
“The violent.”
I nodded. “So that is Beatitude #1. ‘Blessed are the violent.’ What else?” The floodgates opened.
The thieves.
The liars.
The manipulators.
The hypocrites.
The wealthy. (There is an underground black market economy.)
The strong.On and on it went. These were the “virtues” that got “blessed” and rewarded inside the prison. These were the “virtues” that helped you get ahead, survive, and thrive. And I wondered, is it any different on the outside where I live?
Not much.
After creating this list we then turned to Matthew 5 and we read aloud:
Blessed are the poor in spirit…
Blessed are those who mourn…
Blessed are the meek…
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…
Blessed are the merciful…
Blessed are the pure in heart…
Blessed are the peacemakers…
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness…
As we read these words the room became very somber. In light of what we’d just been talking about the radical call of Jesus shone like a white hot light. It burned. When you read the Beatitudes on the outside it all sounds so nice and happy. But read inside a prison you suddenly see just how crazy you have to be to be a follower of Jesus. How the Beatitudes really are a matter of life and death.
I asked the prisoners, can you be meek, poor in spirit, or merciful in prison? Finally opening up, they said no, you can’t. You’d get hurt, taken advantage of, raped, killed. Your days would be numbered if you tried to live out the Beatitudes.
And suddenly, I didn’t know what to say. For it became very clear to me what it would mean for me to preach the Beatitudes to these men. I’d be asking them to give their lives to Jesus. I’d be asking them to die.
So I hesitated. For one simple reason. I didn’t know if I was ready to make that commitment. And sensing hesitancy in my own heart, my own fear of Jesus, I couldn’t ask these men to do something that I myself lacked the courage to do.
None of this was verbalized. After the men described how it would be suicidal to live out the Beatitudes inside the prison we started to talk about how, in small moments here and there, they could let their defenses down to show a little meekness, to show a little mercy. We started to figure out ways they could fit Jesus into the gaps and margins of prison life. Where their shell of violence and toughness could be dropped for a moment.
Basically, we talked about compromise. How to accommodate Jesus to the ruling ethic of prison life. And like I said, I couldn’t ask for anything more. Who was I to push them for more mercy and meekness when I’d be walking out of the prison gates in less than an hour? I didn’t know what I was asking them to do. Nor was I confident about what I would do if I was in their shoes….
I printed out this post and mailed it to my pen pal “Conway”, whose poetry and letters I have shared on this blog. Conway responded with one of the most inspiring stories of Christian love that I have read in a long time. Let me also add that when he wrote this, he was in the middle of a three-week hunger strike to demand more humane conditions in California prisons. Here is an excerpt from his July 4 letter:
I can see some prisoners feeling relaxed inside of the chapel setting in prison. I have only entered the chapel for religious service on one occasion in prison. That was for a friend who had died of AIDS at Vacaville. I was there for maybe two years recovering from being paralyzed by L.A. County sheriffs. (In L.A. County Jail.) It took about eighteen months to be able to walk again.
I was pissed off that it took several months before the service was held for Johnny. He and four others had died from AIDS in that time.
I was listening to the priest or what they call chaplain speak on each man’s life that had passed. And it just seemed so weak to be waiting this long to be approved for a decent ceremony. He’d already been cremated months before. Why now? and why pack them all into one ceremony?
But I do recognize that the blanket patch had to be sewn together with others. It was large.
Still why wait to leave this soul roaming along the halls of that place? It had me mad and I stood up to confront the chaplain. He called me up to the podium and asked me to say a few words of what Johnny was about. The funny thing is even though he was gay and had caught his sentence for protecting himself, this was not what I talked about. It didn’t matter to me what preferences he had. He was just a good dude and I wanted everyone to know it.
All of those cons were crying like babies when I’d finished my tirade. And of course I was too. But the point I make is that the label of holy or devout, what the hell is that, if we are to become righteous in our lifetime. Like I said that was the only one time I went to a religious service. But it amazes me. So many of those guys later on thanked me for standing up and speaking on that day….
…I’m sure I got off track on that subject, but the comments [on the blog post] brought back memories of my connection with their discussion. But I disagree with one point they said you can’t be merciful in prison. Actually you can. It’s not as ruthless a crowd as everyone makes out. Nevertheless it is a harsh environment that one must prove themself everyday. But we all are tested daily.
Visit the website of California Prison Focus to find out more about the hunger strikers’ demands and track the progress of the reforms. Their five core demands were as follows: (1) Eliminate group punishments for prisoners of the same race when one breaks a rule; (2) Reform the criteria for declaring a prisoner to be active in a gang (currently prisoners like my friend Conway are sent to long-term isolation on dubious evidence); (3) Comply with the recommendations of the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in Prisons (2006) regarding an end to longterm solitary confinement; (4) Provide adequate food; (5) Expand and provide constructive programs and privileges for indefinite SHU inmates. (Conway was mentoring at-risk youth until he was transferred to the Segregated Housing Unit on false evidence of gang activity.) The California state legislature held hearings on these issues in August.
Related resources: PrisonerSolidarity.org; TGI Justice Project (advocate for transgender, genderqueer, and intersex inmates).
While working theatre in England I met a talented teenage boy who was the only child of a West End villain. I mentored Russell in voice production for two years at no cost. As a thank you Russell took me out for my birthday. His father’s friends used their connections to the hilt. Russell, dressed in a dinner suit, called for me in a chauffeured limo, took me to a concert which one couldn’t buy buy tickets for love or money, then to a casino where he introduced me to a leading TV playwright who’d learned his profession in jail from and during visits from individuals such as yourself Jendi.
Thanks for this great story – I know it will inspire “Conway” when I share it with him!
students to reflect, some students think that this is the student’s infringement. At the Academy
students: counselor let us shoot each other love , said that the school does not allow kissing in public to embrace and encourage students to monitor each other , you can shoot close to schools, according to reports , after the implementation of school surveys , will send photographs of their parents ,moncler piumini, and students involved serious treatment, reported for students, colleges will be rewarded.
counselor brought in addition to these three classes , other classes some students said their instructor was mentioned only in the class not to publicly embrace kissing ,moncler piumini, no mention of encouraging photos .
school : Just embrace kissing in public places is not allowed
yesterday morning,Moncler Doudoune Homme, the Northwestern University Li Jianzhong ,g star pas cher, director of Modern School Admin Office , said although the school does not advocate students fall in love,Moncler Chaussures, but has not issued any prohibited . For students to reflect each individual counselors to encourage students to take pictures according to supervision and reporting indecent behavior ,g star veste, Li Jianzhong , said the school had never had such a request ,moncler outlet, if any,Moncler Doudoune Enfant, is the counselor’s personal behavior ,Moncler piumini donna, once verified , will be seriously dealt with the teacher concerned .
The notice mentioned in reports on those who embrace kissing the content of prizes ,Moncler Accessoires, Li Jianzhong , said this is mainly to guide the students do not embrace kissing in public .
■ lawyers point of view
public places where privacy is not suspected of infringement is not
Virtually any thriving clients are conscientious about the salon advertising they do. The matter that matters when it comes to your promotion is if this brings in new customers or not. Marketing that does not create a stream of latest clients is definitely worthless. To acquire your promotion on track you should eliminate the following three blunders. I may engage in a branch and claim, eliminating these kinds of three mistakes alone could give you a significant edge over competitors in your area.Mistake #1: Probably not monitoring the success of an ad.The easiest method to know if the marketing manages or not is simply by tracking that. Include a distinctive coupon or perhaps phone number about each advertising. This will let you know on which advertising a new consumer is engaged on when they walk in your beauty shop. When a brand new client offers an ad bit you can are convinced that new business compared to that specific ad. At the end of every month total how much business each ad launched then withhold how much this particular cost to run. The difference will confirm whether or not the ad was a accomplishment. If the ad did not cause you to profit, don;t create mistake number 2.Mistake #2: Function an ad once more, even though it been unsuccessful the first time.An issue like this could very well come up whenever a yellow web page salesman tries to convince you to definitely run your own ad a second time. They claim people need to see which multiple times before they do a thing. While this is correct in some cases, you should definitely consider why they are informing you this. Once you keep managing your advert, they make funds. Of course this individual wants that you keep the ad. Whether it is actually doing anything at all for your industry is of absolutely no concern as a way to him. Just what should you execute instead? Commit to changing to a advertisement that didn;t perform. Either send it out an alternative channel, or perhaps reword several. Possibly change the provide to see if it;s going to get a greater response. Once you start testing the advertising you do, you could be on your way to learning to be a real skilled. Be honest warned even though, don;t let your emotions be a factor in whether or not you keep with an advertisement. New clients walk through the door due to what they believe. Your own view should be put aside in case you are trying to fix an advertisement which didn;t function. Too often hairsalon owners let their very own feelings play a role in their marketing and they are creating mistake Number three. It is a big one.Slip-up #3: Love a commercial that didn;capital t work.Your marketing will serve a single purpose. Which is acquiring new business. If you have an advert that’s not operating, even if you think it is fantastic,Tip For Handling Women’s Hair thinning,