I’ve learned a few things this week. The first is that interdepartmental meetings
are exceedingly boring but vitally necessary.
I have been impressed with the way the prison staff works together to
make decisions about the treatment plans for the inmates. I have seen how inmates may show one side of
their personality to the chapel staff and another to the officers. Even shift to shift can make a significant
difference. I like the chaplains are
included in the decision making and that our opinions are respected.
This week has also cemented within me the idea that love has
nothing to do with religion. All of the
inmates I worked with were Christians and they have all assumed that I am as
well. Despite my lack of Christian
credentials and experience, I was able to provide comfort and support to them
all. It has shown me that love and
compassion go beyond religion and ideology.
It bothers me that so many people assume that you have to be Christian
to provide this service. The half a
dozen Pagan chaplains working in hospital and correctional settings will
hopefully change that.
I’ve also been thinking a lot about forgiveness. I am working with people who
have committed crimes that are really horrible.
Two of the inmates I have been counseling have been convicted of
victimizing children. I am able to find
a way to look past that and work with them as they are today, but I feel like a
hypocrite. I was a child victim myself
and I have banished the perpetrator from my life. I have no desire to forgive him, and yet here
I am working with offenders.
This leads me to wonder a lot. I wonder if forgiveness is something that a
chaplain or minister aught to model for others?
I wonder if it is healing for people to forgive the wrongs committed
against them? I wonder if some things
that are just unforgivable and I wonder whose job is it to forgive?
Forgiveness is the
needle that knows how to mend.
Jewel
Fall Blessings,
Chaplain Holly
