Date: Wed, March 11
Scripture: Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”
By Melanie G Snyder, Author, Grace Goes to Prison: An Inspiring Story of Hope & Humanity (Brethren Press)
Every Wednesday evening, in a church basement in Lancaster, PA, about thirty men and women meet to support, encourage, and offer each other hope. This peer-led group, called “Successf ul Returning Citizens” is made up of formerly incarcerated people and their volunteer mentors. They’ve taught me so much. The most humbling lesson they’ve taught me is that, as “Just Mercy” author Bryan Stevenson says, “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
These returning citizens face numerous barriers due to their criminal records. Many are unemployed or work at low-wage jobs that leave them unable to afford basic necessities like food, clothing, medication, or healthcare. Many live in unhealthy, unstable, and unsafe places. Some are homeless. They are judged, labeled, and rejected by employers, landlords, and the community. Many are estranged
from their families. They carry haunting memories and trauma from the rampant violence and toxic culture in our prisons and jails. And they carry deep shame about their past, and a pervasive sense of being “unworthy” and “less than”.
Yet, they start every Wednesday night meeting by sharing what they’re grateful for. It’s humbling to listen to, as I’m reminded of all that I take for granted. They talk about their struggles too. And I’m in awe at what they have to carry day after day. Then, they lift one another up with the sweet healing balm of encouragement and hope. They are real and tender and candid with each other. In the brave space they create together, anyone who’s hurting can say so, knowing that here, at least, they’ll find compassion and acceptance, not judgment. I am in awe at the generous, caring, merciful ways they connect with each other. Their volunteer mentors provide tangible supports like transportation to appointments and help accessing community resources. But more important are the “intangibles” the mentors provide: A warm welcome. Unconditional dignity. Compassionate listening. Acknowledgement of each person’s humanity. Affirmation of each person’s worth. Imagine if every house of worship offered this kind of compassion, hope, and mercy to society’s most marginalized and ostracized children of God: returning citizens. What a just and merciful world we could help to create.
Prayer: Loving God, I’m grateful for your boundless mercy. Guide my heart, hands and feet to walk humbly, love mercy, and act justly. Amen.
Criminal Justice Fact: The conditions in solitary confinement vary from prison to prison but are characterized as 23-24 hours confined to a single cell.
Action: Read the following report from the Vera Institute of Justice to gain a better understanding of the scope of solitary in the US. https://www.vera.org/downloads/publications/solitary-confinement-misconceptions-safe-alternatives-report_1.pdf
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