Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022
I hadn’t heard from Shawn yet in 2022. He’s serving a 28-year sentence in Stillwater and usually calls at least once a month. He called last week.
“We’ve been in constant lockdown since January,” he told me. “First there was Covid lockdown for two months. Just as that was lifted, there was a stabbing followed by an assault on a staff member and then on a corrections guard. After that, there was a big fight between rival gang members. During the Covid lockdown, we were in our cells for 23 hours a day. With the violence, it was 24 hours. That’s why I couldn’t call.”
I took a second to catch my breath. “How did you handle that, Shawn?” I asked.
“I was OK because I had Jesus with me,” he answered. “I did a lot of Bible reading and praying. I also spent time practicing on my guitar and doing artwork.”
My next question of Shawn was, “What about the others, the ones who don’t have Jesus to lean on in such times? How did they handle it?”
Shawn didn’t hesitate before answering. “Some of them lost their minds during the 3 1/2 months. I could hear screaming and yelling up and down the cell block.” He paused before finishing his summary. “I’m glad I have Jesus. If I didn’t, I’d be just like them.”
Shawn met Jesus in the Wright County Jail in Buffalo Minnesota, where I am a volunteer chaplain. I will be talking to another man charged with second degree murder this afternoon. He also walks with Jesus and conducts Bible studies in the jail and counsels individual fellow inmates. His name is Ricco. I am so blessed to know these men on a personal basis.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:57 am
Lord Jesus, I thank You for what You’re doing through brother Ricco. I pray that his faith continues to increase in You and he is able to be a light in a world of darkness because Your light, Lord, is shining through him. I pray for the other prisoners and I pray they will soften their hearts and turn towards You, Christ Jesus so Your light can shine through them as well. I pray for forgiveness for them and I pray healing for their families as the people they may have done harm to that landed them in this situation. I pray that You look not on their past, but on their present and future as they allow Your righteousness to be upon their lives. In Jesus name I pray, amen.