He’s Serving Three Life Sentences, and THIS is What He Wanted …

I went to prison yesterday.

Actually, it wasn’t the first time. I guess you could say I have a life-long relationship with prison bars and barbed wire. 

It started when my biological mother was incarcerated for drug trafficking and a long string of other charges. It was there, behind the barbed wire, that she thought if she caused herself to miscarry, that she would be released. Thankfully, God had another plan, and I was born. I’ll share more about this beautiful testimony another time.

My relationship with barbed wire, buzzing gates, and prison bars didn’t end there.

My entire childhood was spent with officers coming to our home day and night, checking in on my family members on probation, searching for family members with an outstanding warrant, or de-escalating some type of family dispute that spiraled out of hand. I also spent a great deal of time in bail bonds offices and visiting incarcerated family members. 

Once I grew into an adult, I returned to my position behind the prison bars. 

This time it was when our church visited a juvenile residential facility to minister to the teenagers who were incarcerated. Though I was there as a volunteer, I was offered a job that day. I scoffed at the idea. I grew up dealing with crime and criminals, so the last place I wanted to work was with the same type of people I fought hard to get away from and to not become.

Or so, I thought. 

I ended up taking the job, and after a while, realized I wasn’t clocking in and out everyday for a paycheck. I was showing up with a mission … a calling. One that ignited a passion within me to embrace people in need of a second chance with open arms, optimism, and hope. 

It’s hard to believe, but 20 years have passed since that time and this same passion still burns within me. In fact, I felt it reignite when I was buzzed into the prison, curriculum in hand, and walked toward the building where I would be facilitating my class. I would even venture to say the class itself, the men within the class, fueled this passion even more with the hunger they showed toward receiving what I was there to pour into them. 

“Thank you so much Ms. Hope. Most people can’t wait to get OUT of these prison gates, but you came IN,” one of the guys in my class shared. “It’s a breath of fresh air to know someone cares … that someone wants to help us.” 

I received similar sentiments from all of the guys in my class as they lined up to head back to their mods.

Though I was there to teach them, I learned a great deal in return. 
The first lesson I learned was possibly the most impactful. 

I was there to teach reentry, so I expected all of the guys in my class would be within a couple of years of returning to their communities. Most were, with the exception of three of the men … all serving at least one life sentence. 

I was puzzled as to why men who are supposed to spend the rest of their life imprisoned would want to take part in my class. So, I offered them an out. At which time, each vocalized a passionate desire to stay.

“I’ve accepted this is my home. I’ve accepted I won’t ever get out of here … I will probably die here,” one of the men shared. “But some days that life sentence weighs really heavy and I need hope too.” 

The rest of the men agreed. They were all there for the same reason, whether they would be returning to their communities or would make their homes behind barbed wire until they took their last breath. 

Hope. 

They desired hope. 

Hope to keep them on the right track behind bars. 

Hope to help them face the world outside of the bars. 

Hope to give them purpose, even when purpose is the hardest thing to grasp. 

And that …. Hope … is what I was there to give. 

I’ll be sharing more about my life beyond the barbed wire as I continue to facilitate my classes. I believe there is a lot to learn and a lot of inspiration that will come from one of the places least expected. 

In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about Trauma-Informed Care for the Justice System or are interested in my curriculum, Beyond the Barbed Wire: Reentry - Resilience - Restoration, email me at cultivatinghope@outlook.com to set up a time to connect.

Until then … Let’s Cultivate Hope!