About a month ago I received my regular weekly letter from
my “blog manager”. In the letter, she
apologized for falling behind on blog postings.
At the time of her letter she had 32 postings to type. 32 – who would ever think I’d write that
much? But, I have a great deal of time
on my hands and words just seem to pour out.
I wrote her back and assured her I would never get angry
over blog postings. I also offered to
speak to her husband about hiring her an assistant. Instead, I told her I’d take a month or so
off from new blogs. Just like the
Seinfeld character, George Costanza, when losing his job, I enjoyed “the Summer
of George”. I sat in my boxer shorts,
ate a block of cheese, and watched the world go by (proverbially, of course).
During the past six weeks I found peace, discovered a good
deal about myself and others, reconnected with lost friends (some going back to
my high school days), and realized that storms come in everyone’s lives. But, God is closest to us at our weakest moments,
in our darkest days. I met the Director
of Virginia DOC – albeit briefly – and am more convinced than ever that even in
“tough on crime” Virginia, real prison reform is close at hand. And, I collected notecards full of stories
about the men who do their time here and quotes by both the famous and not so
famous.
“The Summer of George” recharged my battery and gave me
renewed optimism for the future. Over the
next few weeks I’ll be putting down on paper what I’ve observed, felt and
learned this summer. In my mind, it has
been the most startling few months of my life.
I have thought and wrestled and ultimately gained peace with many issues
and I’m convinced it wouldn’t have happened had I not been in this place at
this time in my life. Like Joseph or
Paul finding joy in a prison cell, I can honestly say this summer has taught me
that God is indeed good; His steadfast love endures forever.
The write Charles Bukowski said two profound things.
“It’s alright
sometimes to pee in the sink.”
and
“If you want to know
who your real friends are, pull a jail sentence.”
The first quote is pretty straight forward. Sometimes you have to buck conventional
wisdom and do what you think regardless of social convention. I lived that.
I’ve been criticized and castigated by well-meaning people: friends and family – for admitting to
everything and giving everything up to my ex.
Could I have fought my charges, embarrassed my employer, tied my ex up
in property battles? Yes. Would people have been so supportive of me if
the situation was reversed? Probably
not. I did what I thought best and would
do it again, even knowing the results. I’d
rather have the same sentence and be able to face myself in the mirror, rather
be divorced and know what I know about my almost thirty year marriage, than any
other result. I peed in the sink. And, it was worth it.
As for the second Bukowski quote, no truer words may have
ever been written. For so long I bemoaned
the loss of a spouse and supposed friends who disappeared when the cell door
closed. But I’ve realized over the
course of these past three years how truly blessed I am. I have family who wrap me in love and concern
that is unimaginable. And I have
friends, real friends, that write and visit and in the quiet of their homes
pray for me. They are few in number, but
their care for me is humbling beyond words.
So the “Summer of George” was good, very good. And I have a lot to write about. It’s time to get back to work. If you’re reading this, I leave you with a
final request. As the writer of the Book
of Hebrews stated,
“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them” (13:3).
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