"Why me God?" Part 1

 Friday 2:55pm

A success story from the world of the forgotten ones.

Norris - an inmate doing two life sentences.

"Why me, God?"

I found a great opportunity in my life to serve in prison ministry through my ACTS Retreat team at my hometown church. The federal prison system is here, leaving a large number of inmates with no family or friends around, some for the remainder of their lives. 

"I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:36-40

It is very easy and sometimes justifiable to care less about what a prisoner thinks or goes through on a daily basis. After all, most of them committed crimes that are unheard of, not something you would write about. However, I often discuss the importance of stepping out of oneself and helping others. This is a significant issue that is frequently overlooked. However, doing so brings rewards from God that are unlike any other. 

For example, I knew that I wanted to do more with my life, and in doing so, I realized I wanted to help people. I didn't necessarily want to "preach" to anyone, and Lord knows I've lived too long to become a priest. But I also knew with my background and history report, connected with people who need AA or counseling, mixed with a strong spiritual background, it combines into what you would call "me." Celebrate Recovery is a fantastic program for anyone looking to quit drinking and integrate God into the entire 12-step process. 

But I knew there was more to life than simply working a program. I knew that, in the end, every spiritual vehicle is seeking one thing: the ultimate truth. That's peace, love & happiness. And nobody has the correct answer, but given the interesting direction my life has taken, the challenges I face and continue to face today, combined with an overwhelming optimism and conviction, make me determined to be great against all odds. With that being said, prison ministry is what I came to. 

I met Norris and a group of four other guys. I want to tell their story, starting with Norris. This story involves an average, hard-working citizen and the story of inmates serving life, who are, in my opinion, some of the most stand-up individuals I have ever met. On Mondays, we participate in music, reading, and an experience, strength, and hope session. It's great for the inmates who are locked up all day to get real-world love, so they can take time out of their day for themselves. They understand that and appreciate you by letting us know. These inmates love us, man, we are like rock stars. And the feeling we get helping them is like no other. 

We participated in an ACTS Retreat, which is essentially a modern version of "The Stations of the Cross." It's symbolic in the Catholic Church. It is a 3-day event, where 40 men from my church and I put on an event for 200 notable inmates. The prison where they do life holds 8,000 inmates, so you can imagine just how special these 200 feel. The chance to get out of your cell all day, eat "real world" food, participate in some loving God worship, and music. It's like hitting the lottery for any inmate locked up all day. 

"For I was hungry. And you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn't provide me with clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didnt visit me."

"Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?'

"And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'

"And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life." - Matthew 25:42-46

Upon arrival, they felt immersed in a positive and uplifting atmosphere. We were excited to be there, and they were excited to see us! The actual event is secretive, in the sense of maintaining confidentiality to prevent others from seeking and receiving the spirit of God out of pure curiosity. You hear bout it. And the participant says, 'I can't tell you; you have to experience it for yourself.' It leaves the individual wondering what was so great about it, where they had so much fun, and are so happy, but won't mention anything about it. It lets the person want to seek and find God for themselves. Because each individual goes into it differently. For most in prison, where you have no friends or family members supporting you, little hope is always present. It's essential to uplift each individual, sure, but the real message is to simply explain that God exists and he still cares about them individually. 

My mentor and I were responsible for fostering and caring for four individuals. Every single one of them is doing life in prison. But Norris was doing two life sentences. Anybody can sit back and say they deserve to be in prison, but as Jesus Christ said in John 8, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her." Simply put, the weekend event changed my life. And our relationship grew stronger every Monday after that. I still write them on occasion, and I'd like to share a letter from one and a few letters I've shared with them. For anyone looking for hope in some dark places, think of each of these individuals, some spent years in solitary confinement, worried about being stabbed to death every day for being a particular color. And an environment where the devil is more present than ever over God. 

If these people can find God and change their lives, so can you.

"What is impossible for man is possible with God." Luke 18:27

Ross