Today my heart is heavy for those who are incarcerated. I write regularly to several people who have,
for various reasons and circumstances, found themselves to be in prison. Some are guilty of their crimes while others
are not. The sentence is still the same
and those of us on this side of the wall can and will never be able to
comprehend the depth of darkness, loneliness, solitude, and hopelessness that
is experienced on the other side of the wall.
We may try and we may work to come up with words to try and bring
comfort and hope to the prisoner but in reality we are only comforting
ourselves. There is very little comfort
to those in prison.
When Paul was in prison it was nothing like it is
today. Sallust, a Roman historian,
described the prison as
“sunken about twelve
feet under ground. Walls secure it on
every side, and over it is a vaulted roof connected with stone arches; but its appearance
is disgusting and horrible, by reason of filth, darkness and stench”.
I am reminded of the slave Onesimus. Paul mentions in his letter to Philimon, that
somehow this slave was able to make his way to Paul. This is remarkable when we consider the
times. A prison visitor could not simply
slip in and out undetected. They could
find themselves interrogated by the Roman Empire for being witness to the prisoners’
words or acts during the visit that were not allowed or that could help in the
conviction process. Remember, prisons were not held for the guilty – they were
where people were put to simply get rid of them while information was gathered
to convict them or, in Pauls’ case, held until the populous opinion faded in to
history. Also, according to Roman law at
the time, the testimony of a slave was not admissible unless it was given under
torture!
This puts an entire new light and brings about a stronger
sense of respect for Onesimus. He was
obeying his Lord by visiting those who were in prison and he did this on
multiple occasions to help Paul, to no doubt assist in keeping Pauls’ meager
cell area clean and perhaps supply him with food.
I have a confession – I have purposely avoided writing as of
lately to prisoners. I find my words
often times to feel empty and almost patronizing and insulting. I understand that to congratulate someone on
their seemingly positive attitude is like congratulating a fish for the look of
a smile upon its face when it has just been taken from the water. It is ludicrous and insulting. It is similar to our standard response when
someone dies. We say, “I’m sorry” and
the words feel empty to us and emptier to the one receiving it. Sure, they know out intent – but intention
does not bring about hope and for those in prison, it does not bring about
freedom. It simply reminds them of where
they are.
Perhaps Paul was able to witness to the resurrection of
Christ to the soldiers and other prisoners.
Perhaps some of the people who were witness to Paul’s spiritual strength
(and struggles) had a similar transformation as Onesimus, going from uselss to “special
utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good
work” (2 Timothy 2:21).
A prison can become a place of some personal and spiritual
freedom. It may grant some an
opportunity to surrender even deeper in to the loving arms of Christ. It may help some answer the call and say,
here I am Lord, send me. However, it is
still exile. It is still and will always
remain a separation from the experiences of being fully human.
Remember in your
words and acts to others that you have no idea what turmoil, what anguish, what
exile that person is experiencing.
Choose your words carefully and be intentional in your approach just as
you want people to do for you. And today
please pray that the injustice, that has imprisoned innocent people, will be
heard and handled quickly and correctly in the name of Jesus Christ.
