HOPE BEHIND BARS

When she was seventeen, she went with the estudiantina from her school to a women's prison in Puerto Rico to sing and encourage those serving time as well as those who worked there. The image implanted in her memory is that of a girl about her age behind bars next to another inmate who reminded her of her own grandmother. What were their stories that no one might ever hear? Later, in life, she heard testimonies of people who had also been in prison for different reasons. She believes our hearts should break for them as God's heart does. People behind bars who have faith, whether "acquired" before or after a conviction, will face and accept the consequences of their actions, will forgive and ask for forgiveness, and will look forward to redemption. In the absence of support and faith, they wither and lose hope.

These stories are presented as one-sided interviews-answers to questions readers can figure out quite easily. They are fictional but relatable characters who would never have expected to find themselves in the situations that led them to prison. In Matthew 25:37-40, we read,

Then these righteous ones will reply, "Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?"

And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"