I went to jail

Saturday I went to the Suzanne Kays Detention Center to visit a friend.

The line to get in to visit someone is outside. There is no covering and obviously you are subject to the weather of the day. Most of the people waiting in line are mothers with small children. They are waiting to see their loved ones and the children are eager to see their father.  Some waiting in line want to see their own children behind bars. Never the “original plan” in parenthood – but a necessity in many families.

My friend has been in the jail for almost four weeks now. He told me that I was the first person to visit him. The unit that he is on does not have a Bible study, church or any positive influence. There are Bibles to read, but the text is too small for his aged eyes.

Like many of the homeless, he has been in and out of jail for much of his life. His moral barometer is broken and he doesn’t have positive accountability. He was in my Life Skills class for a few months, but he left the Bridge to pursue better housing. His prescriptions for his psychological conditions ran out, and he didn’t have money to get them refilled. In a panic he entered a hospital to seek refuge and help. A situation arose and he was charged with a petty theft. I’m not excusing his action, but life is tough and sometimes we all make bad decisions.

He is one of thousands in Dallas – that unless they are taught a better way to live, he will continue this cycle until he gets hurt, or hurts someone else.

Please pray for those to whom crime seems a way of life. Pray that they would be convicted, and changed by God’s word. Pray that they can receive training on how to life a God honoring lifestyle. Pray that God would allow me the opportunity to work full-time with men like this.