Fourteen
____________
Blood Out
Clifford, Lenny... Byron, Renie went over their names in his mind like a
kid envisioning Christmas morning coming. Why
is it I miss Cyrene’s meetings so much? He
pondered his question, surmising, Those
meetings feel like a cold swim in a spring filled stream in the middle of a
dry, hot desert. God’s placed me, or maybe I did initially, in this desert. I
need to make the most of my time here.
“Stone, S2-53373, 217 Upper,”
Control announced, “You have a visit, report to the housing officer.”
Renie wondered who would come
this late on a Thursday evening. The only person he could think of was his
lawyer.
Placed in restraints and
escorted to an attorney room, Renie waited for his visitor for what felt like
half an hour. When the room’s door opened a well-dressed woman in her
mid-forties entered. “Hello Mr. Stone, I am Grace Wentworth your new attorney.
I will be handling your case from now on. I hope that is alright with you.”
Renie inquired, “What happened
to Mr. Braithwaite?”
The attorney sat down opposite
Renwick while the C/O secured the door to the soundproof client-attorney room.
“Let’s just say our firm felt that your representation would be better served
if I took over your case and worked on your appeal.”
Renie’s hope of being released
one day surged through him like a bite from a hot chili pepper, but he knew he
should not get his hopes beyond the realm of reality.
“Mr. Braithwaite is no longer
with our firm,” Ms. Wentworth informed her client. “He has moved on to other
playing fields.”
“I see,” Renie said. “By his
choice, or your firm’s?”
“You are a bright young man, Mr.
Stone. Let’s just say our firm stands on the position that pro bono cases
should be handled the same as any other case, free from any time limits used
for representation.”
“Time limits?”
“Yes, Mr. Stone, you see,” she
opened her briefcase and removed some papers, “many of these type of cases are
based on time limits, so many hours for each one. That varies from firm to
firm. I will be working on your case until we have pursued all options and
appeals available.”
Renie did not quite understand
everything, but was very glad that Ms. Wentworth would be his permanent
attorney.
“If you would read and sign
these documents for me,” she passed the papers and a pen over to Renie. “They
are more of a formality for our firm than legality. As you see, Mr. Stone,
these papers are only to show that you have been informed of the attorney
change and agree to it. Of course, if you would rather have a different
attorney I can arrange for someone else to take your case.”
Standing slightly to sign the
documents in his belly chain restraints, he replied, “Oh, no, Ms. Wentworth.”
Ms. Wentworth gathered the
papers up then explained about cases similar to her client’s where early
release was possible. Renie sat listening and praying silently. He thanked the
attorney once the visit ended. On his way back to his unit Renie shared his
faith with the escorting officer, but the woman did not respond at all. She’s very official, Renie thought.
Friday morning came quickly.
With the infirmary project drawing to a close and the new Ad-Seg unit in the
final stages of troubleshooting, Renie and Cornell wondered about their
employment futures. The two completed some painting touch up, cleaned some
windows with scrapers, and then polished faucets and other metal items
throughout the project for most of the day. The two even had the opportunity to
do a little weightlifting for a short time. They used anything they could find,
including having one sit on a table while the other did bench press style
lifts. Around 1 p.m. some men and women in suits toured the facility for a
pre-inspection and were very impressed with the craftsmanship and detail work
performed by the inmates. Around 2 p.m. another group of four individuals
entered, this group called for Renwick and Cornell. The two youths were
instructed to report to the Nurse Practitioner’s office near the front of the
infirmary project where they had cleaned windows earlier that morning.
“Inmate Purdue, Inmate Stone,”
the man greeted, “Have a seat.”
The two sat down opposite the
four, wondering if they had done something wrong, were about to be praised for
their work, or questioned concerning other matters altogether.
“Relax, you two are not in any
trouble,” a smiling woman said. “You young men have maintained an exemplary
level of performance all through your tenure with this construction project.”
The panel of four explained to
the youths that a new project was being implemented within thirty days, and
that Renwick and Cornell were approved to partake in this endeavor should they
be willing.
The boys sat dazed as the group
explained the details to them; they would travel around working on prison
construction projects with a small group of other youth prison honor inmates.
They liked the word honor and especially enjoyed the opportunity of expanding
and perfecting their construction skills and experience.
Who in their right mind would
not agree to this chance to get away from the prison’s mainline? both youths thought.
It was, after all, not that much
different from any other rural construction worker or oil platform worker’s
life; solitude, away from home, though their current home was not one they
would miss, and long working hours. It doesn’t get much better than this, they
both said to themselves.
Once the interviewing group
departed, the boys discussed their futures and their current situation.
“We should avoid the yard and
other common area places,” suggested Cornell. “That will provide less
opportunity for trouble. And we shouldn’t mention this to anybody.”
Renie agreed, but insisted upon
attending the Cyrene Youth Ministry meetings before their departure. Cornell
affirmed his construction partner’s desire.
“The walls have ears, ya know,”
Cornell stated.
Renie replied, “And some of
those ears have shanks in their hands.”
Cornell added, “Just like out
here on the job, safety first!”
That evening during the Cyrene
meeting, Lenny, Clifford and Byron summarized many of their teachings over the
past few months. The trio explained about Christ’s blood being shed for the
forgiveness of their sins and for purchasing their freedom and justification.
“All of you are brothers by the
blood of Christ,” Byron assured the boys.
The leaders explained how the
blood of Jesus brought the youths close to God by washing away all of their
sins. Clifford read numerous Bible verses about the cross and talked about
dying to selfish desires and focusing on God and spiritual things. Lenny read
from the books of Acts and Romans concerning Christ’s death, burial and
resurrection, also reading dozens of verses throughout the Bible’s Old
Testament relating to the messiah.
One youth questioned the leaders
about flesh and blood not inheriting the kingdom of God, to which Byron
explained, “Christ’s blood was shed for your sins, he was raised in his own
same original body and now lives by the Holy Spirit. Blood is natural and
spirit is supernatural. Just like Jesus, you who believe will be raised from
the dead, or transformed if you are alive when Christ returns, and will live by
the power of God, not by natural powers. Christ’s blood is your way out of a
sinful life.”
The group offered water baptisms
for any of the youths present who wished to affirm their faith in Christ. Both
Renie and Cornell were among the eleven inmates who stepped forward when
invited. After each boy had the opportunity to talk about their new found faith
and what God was doing in their life, the participants all changed into
jumpsuits provided by Cyrene Youth Ministries. They were baptized in a large
water holding tank the prison’s maintenance department had set up especially
for this meeting. Clifford prayed for each boy and reminded each one to, “Walk
in the Spirit.”
Lenny reminded the young men
about the availability of study materials, key passage lists, counseling guides
and the confidential questions section of their website, “So, if you have the
opportunity and wish to remain in contact with us when your sentence is served,
sources are available for you.”
The youths, well-pleased with
this offer, felt a touch of hope pierce their hearts.
Additional discussions included
the idea that the ministry may purchase an entire town, if one ever became
available for auction one day at a convenient price. “It is a dream for now,
but if that dream’s vision ever comes to fruition,” Clifford explained, “we
hope to create some type of self-contained work environments within that
community, a haven of rest where youths can begin a new life.”
As the youths lined up and
departed, the three ministry leaders shouted, “God bless you all!”
Renie replied, “He does.”
Next Chapter: Shakedowns & Desert Skies
No comments:
Post a Comment