Death Row Christmas

Yesterday I spent time with ten inmates on death row at Angola. I have known these men for nearly two years. I met them at the first-ever Kairos weekend retreat on death row in February 2018. The men have met every Monday since to conduct prayer and share. The men do most of the praying and sharing. A couple of Kairos volunteers, a couple of inmate chaplains and a full-time chaplain are in attendance but the meetings really belong to the death row inmates. Yesterday I sat in awed silence as these men discussed how blessed they are compared with many in the world. My Christmas this year will be better because of yesterday’s meetings and the two years of meetings that have gone before.

I am thankful that my sins are not a matter of public record but are mostly between me and my God. He has promised to forgive and forget. The State and its citizens rarely do either.

I am amazed at the grace of God and it’s power to radically change lives.

I am thankful for the nearly unlimited opportunities I have to minister and am embarrassed by my failure to take full advantage of them.

I am thankful that again this year I can witness the joy of Christmas in the faces of those I love in the privacy of our homes. 

I am thankful that whenever I want I can step outside, breathe in fresh air, absorb and relish the wonder of God’s creation and wonder why I rarely do so.

I realize that ten days of medically unnecessary confinement isn’t really that long. 

I regret that many of the men’s groups I am involved in lack the dedication, openness, and spirituality I experience at Angola.

Emmanuel. God is with us, no matter where we are or how undeserving we, or anyone else, thinks we are.

Have a Blessed Christmas.