STORIES worth the read

THIRD Quarter 2016 Edition

If you’re paying attention to the news—and who isn’t?—your heart has to be broken. Daily we see riveting accounts of violence and racial strife and enflamed rhetoric, anger and distrust on all sides.

So how do we pray to break down the barriers of intolerance, distrust and lack of compassion in our communities? In our country? In our own hearts?

I think our prayers have to find an entirely different level – a more spiritual altitude and perspective — where we quiet the clamor of human events and start to see everyone more the way God sees us – as his image and likeness. We also need to realize that God (or Divine Love) is in control and the more we listen for God’s message and change our way of thinking and feeling away from human reactions to embrace God’s love and peace and joy and harmony, our lives and our world will be transformed.

Tumult, fear, hate, violence and distrust necessarily disappear when we open our hearts to Divine Love just the way darkness disappears when you turn on a light. I am not talking about positive thinking. This transformation through prayer is so much more than some exercise of the human mind. I am talking about spiritual transformation brought about through God’s power and grace.

Really?

Really.

But just how do we do that?

Here’s an example. It comes from a Facebook posting by a young African American woman. She had just entered a convenience store. Off to one side of her were two white police officers talking to the clerk. As the woman entered the store the police officers became silent. The woman said she walked down the aisle looking for an item when one of the police officers approached her. He said, “How are you doing?” She replied that she was “Okay.” But the police officer asked again, “But how are you really doing?” (Obviously referring to the recent shootings). The woman said she was “tired.” And the officer said, “It’s not easy being either of us right now.” And then he gave her an embracing hug. At which point the woman said she just “cried.”

Is this “living” prayer? In this case we’d have to say yes—this is prayer that’s visible, sweet and sympathetic in the way that must have touched both hearts.

Here’s another example of someone “living” their prayer in order to bless another. But the setting is totally different.

In this case the story is told by a Christian Science Chaplain ministering to a man in one of our State prisons.

He writes, “Presently I am visiting on a one to one Sunday School style session with an inmate.  This inmate (referred to me by his also incarcerated brother), will be released in 6 months and has been reading the (Christian Science) literature and the weekly Bible Lessons with the expectation of growing in strength to resist returning to his gang life.

He has been making good progress in resisting the temptation to fight others.  He also has asked for help in freeing himself from feeling that the tattoos—that cover his face and head—are not going to limit him in access to acceptance and a possible job when he is released.

He is making great progress in his spiritual journey, and shared an experience this last visit. Apparently another inmate challenged him to fight and said some very derogatory comments to his face. The man said, “I had full right to take him out, finish him off.” However that night he said he battled in his prayer all night, not sleeping until a few hours before light.  He said he felt like Jacob, wrestling, searching, and grabbing hold of the truth that he had left behind ‘the old man.’

When he awoke, he said he felt a peace that he had never felt in his entire life and wanted to speak with this other inmate. During that meeting he told the other man how he had prayed and forgiven him, how he was on a spiritual path that was leading him out. He told the other inmate he was done with the hate, and that he was going to pray for him.  The other inmate shook his head and walked away.

This inmate’s stand is inspiring. And I am deeply grateful for his progress.

These two stories are encouraging because they are solid examples of what it takes to “be” one’s prayer to bless another.

If you liked these stories keep reading. Because in this edition we’re also including a deeply heartfelt poem written by a young man serving time in a youth detention center. And that’s followed by a series of short stories of transformation that produce physical healing and redemption.

How to help youths get un-involved in crime?…

No, there’s no simple answer to the question. And for the majority of youth in our detention centers, what glues them to criminal activity is “poverty”—simply having to fight others and struggle just to survive. One of our “youth” chaplains submitted the following poem written by a young man whose “ghetto eyes are wise.” While it expresses the human tragedy associated with poverty, it’s also a prayer of deep desire to know the peace of God. The reality out on the “streets” for many youths is simple: you fight to survive. Yet in their hearts kids only want peace and inner-contentment. As a chaplain, or even as a parent, you have to know the forces pulling on our kids—like the forces expressed in this lamenting poem. But more than that you need to be prepared to stand with them to defeat these negative social forces.

A Small Town Cemetery

A child is born, within that breath a man dies.
Daughters become widows before beautiful brides.

Adolescent years reflect trouble and pain,
My environment is stagnated by guns and powder cocaine.

Molly is a designer drug for youth,
Troublesome teens are sometimes too quick to shoot.

Liquor stores govern every corner in the hood,
Only the prelude goes misunderstood.

That Aztec sister traded her soul to get high,
Still behind that pipe is a queen in disguise.

My hood is precious, and I cherish its worth—
Yet how can I be guided correctly when it’s revenge I thirst?

Brothers don’t correlate brotherly love no mo—
Your closest companion becomes your full time foe.

Friends are few and loyalty is sacred,
Follow your intuition and you just might make it.

I pray faithfully that I will outgrow and transcend these streets,
And clutch peace and wisdom because the game is deep.

An exceptional few raise and stand tall,
But most of my homeboys are hidden minds behind prison walls.

The elements of the ghetto is like a rude disease,
Ignorance and murder have killed divine seeds.

My ghetto eyes are wise, yet they remain teary,
East Palo Alto California the Small Town Cemetery.

                                                                        –Signed “CBM”

12 Short Stories/Good Endings

Every month we receive stories from our volunteer Christian Science Chaplains ministering in our State Prisons, County Jails and Youth Detention Centers. We love reading these abbreviated stories of spiritual transformation and resulting healing, and we hope you do too…

• An inmate said he likes how the Bible lessons are structured with lots of Bible passages, instead of (as he’s used to, in his church) just one Bible passage, and lots of human preaching about it.  He read thoughtfully the Sentinel the chaplain gave him, and it contained a healing of back pain (something he’s struggled with for 1-2 years.)  He applied the ideas to himself, and is now free of back pain.  He said, “I thought it was a bunch of hocus pocus, but it works!”

• One man asked the chaplain for prayer regarding a heat rash on his arms which he seems to suffer from every year when the weather heats up.  He has used an ointment in the past but wanted to use prayer this time.  He reported to the chaplain on the next visit that the rash was completely gone, in fact, he said he had even forgotten about it entirely.

• One woman told the chaplain that she had had an initial screening and it indicated that she had breast cancer. After praying with the ideas she was learning in Science and Health and the Bible, she later returned to see the doctor who then gave her a clean bill of health.

• At a building where a chaplain took literature to the cell fronts she noticed one of the inmates waving who had asked for prayer regarding “carpel tunnel syndrome” saying it doesn’t hurt anymore.

• An inmate who was sentenced to 47 years in prison had a testimony to share. It had to do with the belief of severe loneliness and subsequent depression. Sustaining companionship was found in a divinely natural way, and in the form of a “pen pal” that was a complete surprise to him.

• The chaplain and a female inmate “returnee” had been praying about her child. The woman soon told the chaplain that she was happy that her young child, who had cancer, was reported to now be “free” of it.

• A man who is reading Sciencia and Salud is finding it very inspiring. He and the chaplain talk about Jesus’ commands to love one another in our daily walk. Other inmates have commented on his calm demeanor…which is quite a change from the angry, reactive man he was a month ago. When the chaplain visited last week the man said his “cellie” asked if he could read the textbook as he was suffering from an abscess or boil on his mouth. After reading Sciencia and Salud for several days, the abscess drained and he was healed. This so impressed the man that they are now reading and discussing the truth together. 

• An inmate who had been meeting with the chaplain for 2-3 years had been transferred from an upper tier cell to a lower tier cell due to a painful and swollen leg.  The chaplain spoke about the man’s true spiritual identity that could never be touched.  He told him he would pray for him and check back with him in a couple of weeks.  On the chaplains next visit the pain in the leg and swelling were gone. The chaplain asked him what thoughts had come to him over the last two weeks. He said, that one day he realized that the swollen and painful leg “is not me”.  It was clear to him that it was something separate from him and had no part of his being. In two days the condition was healed.

• An inmate had become very stressed about comments that prison guards were making to him. This had been going on for a while and he was feeling a bit desperate. The chaplain told him that he would pray for him and that he could not be affected by evil thoughts and words which God had never created.  The two also spoke about how Jesus loved others. When the chaplain returned in two weeks, the inmate noted that he felt the effect of the prayer and that he was much more relaxed and calm.

• A chaplain met with a newly-transferred inmate who had been praying with another C.S. Chaplain for help with Hepatitis C. In deep gratitude the man explained how the former chaplain had encouraged him to study the definition of “Man” (in Science and Health), and continue this study. He said that when he transferred he was given a physical when he arrived, but the doctors could find no trace of what was showing on his record.  He is on fire with Christian Science and was so grateful for this beautiful healing. 

• Another inmate on the main yard has expressed such deep appreciation for what she has discovered in Christian Science. She had a workplace injury of a torn muscle and through her study and Christian Science treatment, regained the use and freedom in that arm, without the recommended surgery.

• An inmate reported to the chaplain that when she had entered the prison, her heart was hard as stone, she was so bitter and hurt from the past abuse and experiences in her life. The chaplain remembered her from the induction yard and had noted how angry and vicious she appeared. But she kept coming to services and shereports that her heart has been completely reformed and she has found the pearl of great price. She speaks with such conviction and clear testimony of the transforming power of the Christ. She says she has faced her crimes and repented deeply and no longer blames others. This has been a wonderful thing to witness. Her face has softened and she expresses care for others.

As always, if you’d like to post comments just scroll to the bottom of this column. We love hearing from you.

“Wonderful healings are continually taking place… at all of the facilities”.

These are the words of one of our Christian Science Chaplains who ministers to several prisons and jails. But think deeper about this: spiritual healing is much more than a changed physical or bodily condition. It’s the evidence of spiritual transformation taking place—that is where the divine nature (of God) displaces the selfishness, fear and darkness that inhabits the mortal consciousness producing illness and constant internal and external strife. And because of transformation, healing, redemption and harmony-restored are the consequence.

Just think of it…the healing work being done in our prisons and jails impacts not only the inmates or those working in the prisons and jails, but also the prison system itself. So yes, this is a BIG deal.

The chaplain goes on to say: “But what touches me the most is the opportunity to present the Christ, the Comforter, to the receptive heart, as the seed has been sown and we’ll rejoice in the harvest”.

When an inmate serving time in Southern California heard the name of our website (lightinprison.org) he liked the name so much he felt inspired to write down an acronym for the word “light”. So he wrote the following on a small piece of paper and gave it to our chaplain. LIGHT: Life is God’s harmonious thoughts.

Wow. We couldn’t have said it any better. Because in five short words he pretty much sums up where our Christian Science Chaplains and workers get their inspiration from in order to do the work they do.

You’ve probably heard the phrase that “people get religion on the inside”. And it’s true. Sometimes inmates come to talk with our chaplains, or attend a lecture because they’re lonely. And on the flipside, many inmates do read the Bible and Science and Health or the Christian Science Monitor or other Christian Science literature for comfort and inspiration. But do they stay with it once released? Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t. (But regardless, the seed is sown).

When inmates are released they go back to the county where they were sentenced. And no, our chaplains don’t inquire as to someone’s release date or location of their release.

But that doesn’t stop the inmates from sharing information with the chaplains.

Here’s what one chaplain said: “As we finished our one-on-one visit (the inmate) opened his copy of Science and Health and showed me a copy of an “ad” from a newspaper regarding a Christian Science lecture (in this town), which he and his family were planning on attending. He said he was looking forward to getting involved in a Church and learning more each and every day, step by step to a bright tomorrow…….All must be well!”

This same chaplain also said, “I meet with another inmate who was being released during the week and he also had the same ad from the same newspaper with him, and said that he was planning on being there for the lecture. This is the first time I have experienced inmates cutting out a C.S. Lecture “ad” from a newspaper…very inspiring and a wonderful expression and demonstration of hope and faith”.

Keep reading. Because we think you’ll like the stories that follow—stories of spiritual victories won. We hope they touch you heart and bring a little “light” to your day.

And if you’d like to post comments just scroll to the bottom of this column.

Thanks for reading,

David Fowler
Editor, LightinPrison.org

This is pretty amazing…

One of our chaplains asked an inmate if he would rewrite a Psalm according to his own understanding and interpretation. The man choose the 23^rd Psalm. And he gave us his permission to share it with you. It’s a modern day version of this most loved Psalm definitely written from the heart…

Psalm 23 

The Lord is the shepherd of His people–

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He wakes me up each day according to His purpose and will for me–

He leads me in love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control!

He restores my Soul each day to endure my trials and tribulations.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake. 

Each day I wake, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  I will not fear evil or man’s schemes, for You are with me and I know, trust and believe with the upmost faith in You and your promise, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”  Father, your everlasting promise stands forever to protect your children who abide in you.

Father, your rod and staff they comfort me and lead me not into temptation–Each day You prepare a table by me in the presence of evil man/my enemies…Your precious word anoints my whole Christ-like body till my cup runs over.

Surely your goodness and tender mercy shall follow and protect me all the days of your purpose for my life.  I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Amen!

— Signed “B”

Short stories/good endings

Every month we receive stories from our volunteer Christian Science Chaplains ministering in our State Prisons, County Jails and Youth Detention Centers. We love reading these short stories of spiritual transformation and resulting healing, and we hope you do too…

• A chaplain reported that one of the women she visits in a women’s prison said that this month she has been healed in Christian Science of monthly pain and hemorrhaging. She reported that this result has been consistent since she has been studying Christian Science.

• In one of the pods in this particular prison there were about a half dozen or more men that had come to get the citations for the week’s lesson. (There were so many requests for literature that the chaplain had run out!) So as the inmates were talking about how Jesus taught us to love our neighbor—even our enemy—suddenly one of the inmates turned to another and said, “That’s why I like you, because you don’t like me.” 

• During a weekly visit with an inmate, the chaplain heard a man apologizing for shielding his eye from the overhead light. He explained that his eye was hurting, and sensitive to the light. The chaplain asked if he were taking any medication for it. He said he was. The chaplain explained that she could offer Christian Science treatment, but only if that was the only treatment he was using.  But then the conversation moved on to other ideas. However, the next week the chaplain met with this man again. This time he said his eye had been healed through prayer.  Here’s how he described it: “My eye was really hurting, and I couldn’t go to sleep.  I told the deputy on duty about it.  Then I decided to pray. I thought that it doesn’t make sense that my eye should feel this way.  It’s backwards that light would hurt and dark be comfortable, because light symbolizes God, who is all good, and darkness is the opposite.  So why am I hiding in the darkness, and avoiding light? There’s no need to do this. I decided to stop thinking about my eye and rest. I fell asleep and slept comfortably. The next morning, the nurse brought me some medicated drops to use on my eye.  I thought I would try them. But when I did, my eye became red, painful, and sensitive to light, again.  I remembered praying the night before, and how the pain went away.  So I stopped using the drops and reviewed the way I’d prayed before.  Within a few hours, my eye was just fine, with no more pain.”

• One inmate shared with the group that he had a horrific toothache; and that he was praying very hard for God to take away the pain. He said he was up all night in pain. The other inmates were all aware of his discomfort. But after praying he said the pain subsided. He has read the testimonies in the Christian Science Sentinel and has become very interested in just how he came to be healed.

• A chaplain reported that after a number of years of meeting with an inmate and seeing him grow spiritually by reading the Bible and the Christian Science Textbook, Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy, he said that he no longer takes any of the medication that the prison had prescribed for him.  He now says he feels wonderful and has no more problems with depression now that he sees the Truth about himself and his relationship with God.

• One inmate had been experiencing stomach problems for quite a while. The chaplain had given him the book, Science and Health some time ago and reminded him of the importance of turning to it whenever he faced a challenge. So he did. The chaplain told him to read the first page of the first chapter in the book as well as the definition of man which is on page 475. When he went to the doctor again, who had originally diagnosed him with ulcers, the doctor told the inmate that the ulcers were now gone. And the pain that the inmate had been experiencing was also gone. The inmate said, “God can do all things and I never allowed myself to believe otherwise.”

• An inmate who has recently been reading and studying Science and Health, was contacted, after 20 years of being in prison, by an organization that helps wrongfully sentenced inmates get released from prison. This was something that he never expected and was, of course, very grateful for this wonderful example of a need met.

• A greater section of the inmates who were studying the Christian Science Bible Lessons, were given lighter sentences and were transferred to other facilities for different programs: training in suitable work related skills, including behavior skills. This prompted a new group of inmates to begin studying the CS Bible Lessons every day.

• There has been some great progress from one of the EOP inmates who was cleared to mix with general population and come to the services in the general population chapel.  His attention span which was supposed to be about 5-10 minutes is now the full hour, and he reads and shares what he’s finding in the weekly Bible Lesson and other CS writings. 

• One very “challenging” inmate used to ask contrary questions of the other inmates studying the Bible Lessons. This has now stopped and he expresses greater joy and understanding. The intellectualism faded and sincerity and more humility has been evident. He said, “Even when I was on the outside and had every human possession one would want, I had not felt the kind of genuine joy I feel now. There is a lightness and the depression I have struggled with since I entered prison is gone. I feel I have purpose and am gaining spiritual understanding. I am very grateful!” And he now readily agrees with Biblical teachings.

• An inmate who the chaplain had been studying Christian Science with for about a year is now sharing a cell with his younger brother.  One day, the inmate was trying to read the Bible, but the younger brother was very agitated, and it was distracting. The older brother prayed silently for his younger brother, thinking about the “fruit of the Spirit,” as described in the Bible by the Apostle Paul (Gal 5:22.)  He particularly thought about peace, and how it is God’s gift to all His children.  As he reasoned and prayed this way, the younger brother became calm. He then picked up his Bible, and began to read.  After about 10 minutes, the younger brother commented (about himself), “Huh…I wonder where all that (negative) energy went that I had a while ago?” The older brother remarked, “You just experienced a Christian Science healing.”

• One inmate got his healing – He told the chaplain, “No more earache!”

• An inmate requested treatment for a toothache he was praying about.  Prayer was given. The next week he said there was no more pain in the tooth. 

• One inmate who had been attending services early in the year, was transferred to a mental facility. However, he has returned and is finding great help in our Bible Lesson study sessions.  He is grateful that (with his spiritual understanding) he is now able to walk without a walker whereas before the doctors said he was going to have to have an operation to just be able to walk with the walker.  Now they have told him the operation is no longer needed.  He is on fire with his love for God and how he is progressing. 

Feel free to share these stories of healing with your friends and church community!

Header photo by powelli

Everyone likes a good story. Especially ones with a good ending.

Each month Christian Science Chaplains around the state write stories about their ministry work with inmates in prisons, jails and youth facilities. The stories they submit tell of inmate’s lives. Their sorrows, regrets and triumphs. They also tell of their constant battles to spiritually reform their lives—and in some cases even their willingness to risk death by severing connections with former gang members.

No one who hasn’t spent time in a prison or jail can know the mental anguish and physical challenges of incarceration. Prisons can be dark, lonely places. Yet our chaplains volunteer their time to bring the light and joy of the transforming Christ behind their walls.

Of course not all the stories I receive have happy endings or outcomes. But most do. And it is a privilege to share with you these stories of victories won.

And while we don’t mention names or facility locations in order to maintain confidentiality, we hope you can picture the immense joy and peace that comes from the interactions between these dedicated volunteer chaplains and the men, women and youth they serve. We hope these stories touch your heart.If you’d like to post comments just scroll to the bottom of this column.

Thanks for reading,

David Fowler
Editor, Lightinprison.org

In Their Own Words…

In every upcoming post I’ll share something inspiring that a chaplain writes in his or her own words, like the following…

“On my visit to an inmate in late January, (the inmate) was complaining of the inability to eat food without feeling intense stomach pain.  In addition, some of the guards were hostile towards him and kept his cell door window covered so that he could not see out.  

“We spoke about the nature of God and man and how it applied not only to him but to the guards as well as all the other inmates in his building. We also spoke about the importance of reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, and thinking about the ideas presented.  I read some passages to him and he wrote down the references to study.  

“On my next visit, the inmate was full of smiles and happy.  His stomach pain was gone.  The cell door windows were no longer covered, and a new set of guards were assigned to his building that were more caring and respectful.  He felt freer and had a positive outlook on his immediate experience and was looking forward to the future and what he wanted to accomplish when he is released from prison.” 

Short Stories & Good Endings

See if these abbreviated stories of spiritual transformation and resulting healing, (submitted by chaplains), don’t make you smile…

• Following prayer one inmate reported the disappearance of what one prison physician suspected was breast cancer.
• One inmate desiring to commit suicide abandoned the idea when realizing that death would not bring God’s answer—but that character growth would.
• An inmate reported he was healed of inflamed kidneys.  He prayed for himself for four days but didn’t eat anything. Others said he would die. The man felt the problem was related to stress. Now he says he feels great. This was his first healing and he was thrilled! A second inmate who was watching what the man was reading, (Christian Science literature), asked if he could see a Christian Science chaplain too.
• One man, a prior gang leader, separated from his “home boys” in prison to study and practice what he is learning from the weekly Christian Science Bible Lessons; he is now an encouraging spiritual influence and prays to end conflicts in the prison yard.
• An inmate had been trying to process paperwork through the prison and became frustrated and angry with the bureaucratic prison staff and the rules. Shortly after he became physically sick. He said he soon realized he himself was creating all the suffering and just as Jesus told his disciples, he too threw his net on the right side, letting God guide his thinking. Very quickly he was well again.  
• A man who suffered from headaches, says that now after studying Science and Health the headaches are gone.
• A man who has spent over 20 years in prison says that Science and Health has saved and changed his life. Now he to be released soon and inquired if there was a church in his hometown that he and his family could join. The chaplain found the address of the church for the man.
• An inmate who the chaplain has never seen before came to the service waving his arms, speaking loudly and greatly agitated. As the service went on the man calmed down. At the end of the service the man was completely calm, and he told the chaplain that he was “a completely different man” at the conclusion of the service.
• One man came to a Sunday service having a severe migraine headache and could barely hear. The chaplain prayed. At the conclusion of the service the man was much better. The chaplain continued to pray. When the chaplain visited the next week the man said the next day the migraines stopped, and haven’t returned.
• One inmate had hearing difficulty and had to use a hearing aid. After praying over a period of time his hearing returned and he no longer needed the hearing aid.
• An inmate with allergies (by coming in contact with a certain substance) was healed. She had also been a diabetic for 40 years and had progressed spiritually to where she had not had to take insulin for over a year now.
• A young women told the chaplain she felt Christian Science would be able to keep her from doing what has been bringing her back to jail. The chaplain asked why? She said she felt loved by God for the first time in her life; that she could go to Him and always get help. She depended on drugs to be happy. Now studying Science & Health she said she can trust God to give her everything. “I can’t believe I found God in jail”, she said.
• An inmate had an infected finger that wasn’t healing and she was concerned it was a staph infection. She and the chaplain prayed to see that she “lived and moved and had her being in Spirit”, and that the only environment was the consciousness of God’s presence. Her finger healed.
• An inmate who had been meeting with a chaplain for 3 years realized that if he was going to progress spiritually he would have to get rid of anything getting in the way of this progress.  First he cut off his valued ponytail that made him feel “unique and cool”; then he removed the porn that had been on his walls. The inmate said if he was honestly to make progress spiritually he needed to let go of anything that would impair his spiritual progress.
• One inmate was falsely accused of fighting and beating up another inmate. The accused inmate had been scheduled for release, but due to the alleged incident, her release was denied. Much resentment and tears were shed. However the inmate continued to read the Bible lessons and prayed for the truth to be revealed—which defends all. Soon the other inmate retracted her charges and apologized for the false accusation.

 Have you known anyone who spent time in prison and had a transformative experience?  How do these stories make you feel?  Leave your own story below in a comment to share with others!

Header photo by Aapo Haapanen