In Prison

I'm realizing that prison has been on my mind the last few days. The other night when I was coming home on the ferry from a meeting in the City, I was compelled to take out my phone and snap some pictures of San Quentin Prison through the streaky ferry window. I row past this very large and very old prison almost every day, but for some reason the light on the buildings, which light would normally want to draw me in, instead drew my inner attention and prayer to the many ways that people are imprisoned.

Then, at our Fresh Start meeting today, I chose the following Scripture for our worship together. There was rich, compassionate, poignant sharing and dialogue for which I was very thankful.

Hebrews 10:32-39

Recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.