Another
form of isolation to look at this month is prison. It’s a necessary thing to punish people when
they do wrong. But, everyone makes
mistakes. What makes the man or woman is
what they do once the mistake is made.
Many need support to get through the tough times. There are some churches or communities who
have prison ministries. These dedicated
men and women write letters to people who are in prison to give them hope
during their incarceration.
Once
released, the former prisoners have to make a choice. They can stay on the path that they chose
before prison, or create a new path.
This new path takes hard work and dedication. Many carry the stigma of having gone to
prison. Many need a leg up. St. Leonard’s House in Chicago, Illinois
offers that leg up, providing housing, life skills programs, substance abuse
treatment and counseling, education and employment services and many other opportunities
to begin their new life. Volunteers can help
out in a myriad of ways. One important
way is to share a meal with residents. This
breaks through the wall of isolation and lets some light through.
I’ve said it before; just knowing
that someone cares can be enough to turn someone’s life around. Whether you choose to show that you care in
person or through a letter does not matter.
What matters is that you show that you care.
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