It’s hard for me to think about being anywhere for more than a few years.
Do you like staying in one spot? Or do you like the idea of finding a new place to live, or at least getting away for a vacation destination?
When I was growing up we moved about every 3-4 years.
Then, for about 7 years we lived in a rural area just outside Murrysville, PA (east of Pittsburgh). Though I lived the same house that whole time, my parents marriage blew apart and my dad got his own place. At that point I was sort of “moving” every other weekend when I went to see him.
Then at 16, I began to bounce around again. Two years living with my dad and his wife, then college (continual moving every few months), then a newlywed apartment, and then our first home purchased. But, since 2001 Tim and I have lived in one spot and raised two children.
They can’t possibly appreciate the stability this has given them, but I’m happy it’s worked out this way for them. I didn’t think we’d settle down here in the boonies or for this long. There isn’t much civilization…not even a Starbucks closer than 27.7 miles away. (Yes, I just checked.)
I’ve been itchy to go and find some new place to live for about a decade.
That’s one reason the concept of a life sentence is so hard to really grasp. It’s a revolting thought.
More than a few of the men I work with in prison ministry will die in jail. Some of them have 30, 40, and 50 year + sentences. A few have a official life or life + sentences.
This situation can make incarcerated men (and women) do crazy, bitter things. “What do I have to lose?” they think.
Penitentiaries are for inmates who commit violent crimes or for inmates who hurt or kill other inmates. They are places where the most violent, disturbed, and sick criminals go.
Where I minister is not a penitentiary. It’s a prison. Most of the inmates are “non violent” offenders. Some of them have done violent things, but they got away with them and were imprisoned for other sorts of crimes. Many have had drug addictions or they did gang or drug-related crime, like stealing, scamming, or running money or drugs for dealer higher- on the food chain. They don’t tend rapists and killers, etc.
Some of the guys did do awful things, but they behaved themselves for 10-20 years and got moved into the prison setting as a reward.
These men understand the privilege it is to be there, and they don’t want to be sent back to the pen.
Still, many struggle with lack of purpose, regret, sadness, boredom, dealing annoying or difficult cell mates, and missing family and friends.
Some lifers find it hard to stay positive. Not surprising, of course.
But here’s the real miracle:
Some lifers try to make the world a better place–their small world. They are (mostly) peaceful and transformed.
Really, you meet all types in prison. You see every mood and attitude. You see all levels of education. All colors of skin. All kinds of hair dos. All shapes and sizes. All economic and social class backgrounds…from guys who lived on the streets to ivy league college graduates, the prison has them.
But the thing that really makes the biggest impact for me lately is getting to know the guys that are grateful and joyful even though they know and everyone else knows they will die behind bars. They will never be freed no matter what good they do or how changed they become. They try to be good and do good because it’s the right thing, not because their situation will improve.
I find that inspirational.
This means that in prison ministry you get the chance to question your own (sometimes) poor attitudes because you can see people in these “lifer situations” go out of their way to be kind, thoughtful, and pleasant; or helpful, generous, and happy.
You ask yourself:
“What’s so bad about my life, really?”
You find some inspiration to say:
“I have my freedom, and for that I should and will be grateful.”
No, not everything is just how we want it to be, but we can take a lesson from these sorts of prisoners.
Besides, our attitudes can be a prison, can’t they?
We may have our freedom, but we may chose a cell of our own making.
Again, last night I heard from a man about my age whose been locked up for more than 20 years. Plenty of the men I encounter have spent more time behind bars than outside them. 
As some of you know, I’m ministering at the Federal Prison: FCI Schuylkill.