It’s 12:05 pm. Sunday October 1st. Feeling so much gratitude. I had to pull over and write down the experience of today.

I volunteer at the jail on Monday nights. Earlier in the week I sent a text to the officer in charge of programs asking if I could come in on Sunday this week. It would be my only chance at going in on a Sunday. Turnout has been low on Monday nights because, well, inmates would rather watch football than come listen to me. I thought maybe if I hit them at 10 am Sunday morning I will get a few takers, hook them with the spirit, and maybe they will show up on mondays. She gave me the go ahead, so this morning I headed to jail.

When I arrived the deputy at the door told me she hadn’t been informed I was coming so I couldn’t come in. “Please check with the Sargent” I asked. A few minutes later he came out and said yes, he knew I was coming and to come on in. Victory#1! 

I get back to my appointed room and set up the chairs, say a little prayer and hit the button. “Can you send anyone from C block down here for 12 step Christianity” I asked. He answered back, “you bet.”  A few minutes later a voice over the intercom, “sorry  Rod, no takers”.  

I sat back in my chair and thought,”Lord I know I didn’t drive down here for nothing, what now?” The voice returns to the intercom, “do you wanna try D block?” Yes please, thank you. Victory#2!

On Monday’s  when I go in, C block is the only group I can meet with because the other 2 men’s blocks are locked down after 7pm. Because I was here on Sunday, I had a shot at meeting with one of the blocks that are locked down on Monday nights. 

After a couple silent minutes I hear the doors pop, a sound I use to hate when I lived there,  but now I’ve learned to appreciate. In they came, 6 stripe clad souls. One who knew me from years before looked heavenward and mouthed, “thank you” as he walked in, I felt a tear come to my eye. Victory#3!

We prayed and then we read. We read and talked about an interesting principle. The difference between “knowing about Christ”, VS “knowing Christ”.  To help illustrate I used a pretty simple maybe silly example. “How many of you know ABOUT a guy named Tim McGraw?”  Every hand went up. “How many of you KNOW Tim McGraw?” No hands went up obviously. My point was you can know a lot about someone without knowing them. The only way you could get to KNOW Mr McGraw would be to spend time with him, a lot of time. It’s the same with Christ, we need to spend time with him to get to know him. “How do we spend time with him?” I asked. I believe it is not just by studying about him, but we need to include him in our lives. Everyday. Prayer is a start but the real test is DOING what he did. A few things we went over were;  Love each other, friend and foe. Mourn with those who mourn, be a peacemaker, hunger and thirst after righteousness, and most of all serve. Just go out and serve. 

One of the inmates shared how he was learning to read and spell,  thanks to the guy sitting next to him. “He’s taught me how to spell some pretty big words, words like, carelessness, companion and ELEPHANT.” I watched as this young man read with his cell mate/teacher sitting next to him with his arm around him helping in pronouncing the words. A fully tattooed from wrist to neck teacher loving him through his struggle. When we got done I looked at the tattooed teacher and said, “you obviously KNOW our savior.” He cried. I’m sure he’d never heard that before. His student cried. I cried. The spirit filled the room. Final Victory!

I love these experiences. 

I feel so blessed. 

I’m a sinner for sure dear God.

Thank you for loving me anyway. 

———————————-