roses in our lives

Trying to get into the habit of posting short but frequently...
I wish I would take time to journal instead of using the internet, but I realized I like getting comments, and linking things together with URL :)

Anyway. On wednesdays I go to Rikers for a praying group with a few inmates.
Rikers is an island, with only prison-buildings, each circled with many wires and walls and security posts. There is also a bunch of prefab for offices. Those have been around for decades (the priest I work with was there about 30 years ago and it didn't change since).
We went to ask a car-pass to get easier access with our own car, and in front of the office were the most beautiful rose-bushes I have ever seen. Very big, fully bloomed, with many more young roses coming up. So much beauty!

During the Bible group one inmate brought up his concerns: when he is in jail he is a very religious person, he takes time to pray, he has a straight life and everything is fine.. But then he comes out and forgets about it. And gets re-arrested.
It's easier to be faithful when you are apart from all temptations.
We talked about how there is a difference between a religion that is "around" you, and a religion that is "inside" of you.
If you become religious because, let's face it, there is nothing else better to do, then it will fade away as soon as you have something else in mind. (And all people say: "women!")
We talked about the reasons why we are religious. It's ok to start attending religous classes in jail (or anywhere) because you want company and something to do. It's plain human. But at some point the search for God has to become personal. At some point you need to radically change your life.
Radically, from latin radix= the root. You have to change your life from its very inside.
Not change as in becoming someone different, change as in getting a different orientation in who you are.

An old man I know was always saying: "Be a good friend, be like rain and sunshine on your friends. Rain and sunshine won't turn a cactus into a strawberry, but they will the cactus to grow to what it is meant to be."
I like this.

My favorite example is St Francis of Assisi. He wanted to be a knight. He even went on his way to a crusade. But after he turned his life to God he oriented this desire differently. He didn't lose this combative, almost provocative character, but it turned it to love. He decided to embrace the way of Lady Poverty... He took on ambitious projects, he was still very absolute in his way of life. Still himself, but oriented not for his own impulses, oriented towards the Holy Spirit.


My ministry is not to turn those guys into church ladies. Our ministry is to provide them with knowledge of their faith, to provoke questions and reflexions, and to pray together.
I hope that they will find an orientation and a meaning to their lives. A meaning that direct them towards what really matters: a stronger family, an optimist spirit, a servant heart.