- Mar 11, 2019
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Childlike Prisoner
It is interesting writing prisoners. Each is of course unique in how they are accepting their situation. One prisoner that I am writing is named Gregory, and he comes across as very intense, but with a mind that is more childlike than adult. Not sure how far to go with this. Writing is a good vehicle for communication, but it does have some drawbacks of course.
He likes to write many small letters, mostly about one paragraph long, in big letters that look like a child’s handwriting. The writing is not cursive. Yet at the same time, when he writes on a serious note, he shows that there is a lot going on in his mind and heart.
When he writes about his faith in Jesus, he can share some profound insights in a very simple way, which only adds to the beauty of his words. His faith is simple, and direct, and seems to be constant for him. He does speak of struggles of course, and the burden of living in a prison with many different types of men. Some are very violent and need to be avoided. I do worry about him. He has an openness that is not present in the other prisoners that I write to, though they too are men who are seeking a deeper understanding of their faith.
Gregory is having some health problems, and he is having serious problems with one of his eyes. He has diabetes. He is in a special program, but they do not have it where he is at, so he is expecting to be moved soon to another prison.
I do not ask the prisoners why they are in prison, though some do tell me. Gregory has not told me but states that he will be out in a few years. Some of the men I write to are in for a long time, or even for life without parole.
Once you begin to know what their lives are like, and how they got into prison it quickly takes away from any simplistic judgment about what kind of people they are. I am not naïve, many in prison deserve to be there, even for life, but some, well I think it serves no purpose if they are not a threat to others and have proven that they can deal with the issues that brought them to prison in the first place.
When thinking about some of the situations that have led to a prison sentence, could in fact happen to just about any of us. Passions can run high in the human soul, which can lead to a spur-of-the-moment choice that can destroy more than one life.
I do fail in how I write to prisoners. Sometimes I let too much time go by before I respond. Working on that, but sloth is one of my struggles. Yet when I write, it does something deep in me that I do not understand. I think it is because no matter how limited communication can be by writing, it makes the men incarcerated real men and women. Though I have written one woman for a short time. It is mostly men who write to monasteries hoping someone will write to them.
One of my friends on Facebook contacted me for an address for one of the prisoners I wrote about. The prisoner was overjoyed and looks forward to letters from this loving person. He only has a couple of people writing him.
The older I get, the less I understand about life. Yet I am also at peace with that. Not sure it is just about getting answers, but more about living, helping, and growing in the ability to show compassion, and yes empathy for others. Still working on that.-Br.MD
