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Well, after lunch, I decided to finally find the Church and begin getting something going. Father was not in, but the secretary suggested someone would be in tomorrow to arrange an office visit. I asked, too, about becoming a help to whoever pastors to the prisoners. She suggested that there was quite a review process by which the state decides if I am worthy of such trust. Given how difficult I have found purchasing a gun to be, this might be a bit of work. And yet, I am called to either work in the hospitals or the prisons, but I have seen the inside of hospitals, and still do, so that I don't want to do that. And I don't want to do that really BAD! In any case, perhaps something will be on track regarding that.
I did suggest that I might well be dieing. That making contact was vital. That being on time, for Mass and for the Sacrament of Reconciliation has proven difficult. Remember, I am usually a half our to three hours late even when visiting my friend. Things I want to do are not always possible, and I have other... difficulties here. But I do need this. Once you have tasted of the Flesh of Christ, you will never question it. That's... all I am saying. And I am starving for it. Some might say it is akin to the Borg. If so, think about who the Chief Borg, in this case, is. Would you not wish to be so escalated as to be in such close communion with Him? I do. I do. Even if I have to forgo my ego and bow. I do.
I then called my friend. I thought he must have called the other night. I don't know if I was napping or the phone was in another room so that I didn't hear it. And I wasn't sure it was him anyway. It turns out it was. He had hoped I would drive in, at 22:00 and bring him a meal. I think I need to discuss things with him, anyway. I will do so, but it needs to be arranged. I probably won't, possibly can't, just get up and go at any time I wish. Not even for myself do I have this kind of will. But, if he wants me to come in Wednesday nights, for example, at 20:00 to 22:00, with a meal, I can do that. That is about as good as it gets. And, I can plan shopping around it. But I can't just make a special trip with no other purpose, if for gas money alone but that isn't even the main problem.
I then filled the tank and washed the bugs off. Yeck! Nasty things this time of year, anyway. But all in all, I think I did quite well. The temp said 102, but I think that was lowballing it. When I got home I checked the thermometers inside. The one in the bedroom (south facing side of the house) read over 80 F (80 is as high as it goes). The one in the kitchen read 76 F. Not bad, really. At a minimum, the main of the house remains at least 26 F cooler than the outside. Not bad, but still not all that good. I also noticed, when I come out of the oven and into the house, I raise the temp in the house a great deal. I R a Cookstove, summer or winter. I will probably bring the kitchen therm up to 80 F.
Well, on to something or... just as likely... nothing. Later.
There are special considerations that must be understood before ministering to prison inmates. I can supply you with some information from the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (the state combined the prisons and parole this year) so you can have some idea of what to expect.
ReplyDeleteI am active on a reentry program here and have spoken to many prison chaplins regarding how they assist inmates and what is useful in maintaining a proper relationship with them. They can be very manipulative.
That would be super. A little more of a heads up would be great.
ReplyDeleteGranted, I am not the soft mushy bleeding heart type, not at all. I have more than wondered about these type of men, I have worked with such men, even been friends with them, if I never did cross over. At the gates of hell, allies who can and will hold the line are... the price of victory sometimes. And I have to think, there might have been times, where I was considered the darkest, the coldest, of the lot.
Still, those are dark dog days gone. I will happily accept anything you can offer. God, I think, has broken me in some ways. But once the flesh has access to the types of responses and instincts gained that way, those like scars never quite fade completely. I would even say, given physical capacity, mine haven't faded at all save that I face God now, not my own life, my mission, or whatever else I thought was holy once. A weird mix. I must assume God has a plan.
That last may sound braggadocios or cavalier. That is not how it was meant. What I meant to say is that I am not considering this work out of sympathy. And though I never did become criminal or addicted, or even use, I had some friends who I found out did. And I have done some hard things, I'm not a pushover in any way. I might be a terrible surprise to a terrible man, my instincts to survive aren't even my own.
ReplyDeleteBut I know that inside a prison is a dangerous place. I know that a little mistake could lead to terrible things. No matter how strong and tough a guy is, two or three on one, or even a lucky or backstabbing shot could be lethal (or worse). If it was just me, that would be one thing. But such systems involve other workers, guards, and even other inmates. So I would appreciate any information.
I don't do this because I think these guys are innocent. While reading the bible last year, though I think before that, the notion that "I was in prison, yet you did not visit me." sort of keeps sticking in my craw. I can't even say I love the idea, seems risky on a purely secular level. And I am too old for adrenalin rushes. I guess it has to do with hope, faith, and charity, if of my calloused form of those.