Hi Nadia, I am a public defender in philly and a prison abolitionist--also a pastor's kid finding her way back to church/Jesus. I just wrote a prayer (inspired by the prayers you write) for people who are incarcerated. Can I share it with you?
For those languishing in jail, and for those forgotten in prison.
For those who have been harmed, and for those who have harmed.
For the innocent, and for those who did that shit.
For the dads who blow kisses through glass, and for the moms who only get to hug you at the beginning and end of each visit.
For those who have no one, and for those who can pack a court room.
For the spouses who celebrate their anniversary over a 15 minute phone call, and for the lovers who share intimate thoughts in letters read by corrections officers.
For those who have found healing, and for those whose anger feels more inescapable than any physical prison ever could.
For those who still laugh and joke on the phone with their loved ones, and for those who can’t stomach a call home.
For those who lost custody of their children, and for those who raise them over phone calls, letters, and visits.
For those working through their appeals, and for those who find it easier to give up than to keep hope alive.
For those who never get any fresh air, and for those who had to stand in the rain for an hour before the guards would let them back in.
For those who never learned how to read, and for those who got degrees they may never use.
For those who didn’t get to say goodbye to their dying loved ones, and for those who will die alone in their cell.
For those who took the blame so their friends didn’t have to, and for those whose friends have forgotten them.
For everyone who has lost their freedom and for their loved ones who still show up, we pray.
We pray for peace, for redemption and for grace. We pray for better days and we pray for enough commissary to get them through the lockdown. We pray for better legislation and we pray for different narratives. We pray for a world where everyone has what they need and we pray for forgiveness for creating a society where prison exists. We pray that the system will be dismantled and the walls torn down. We pray for freedom.
We pray this to a God who can do all of this and more, amen.
Well shit, this right after my comment on your last podcast outtake post - - sure seems like redemption lies in God and grace, not in anyone or anything else.
Redemption comments take me back to my church days and ..."by grace through faith..." yet I am thinking that there must be demonstration of faith through action. Is faith active or passive? Pondering and thinking I need to up my action side in the equation or else it is all lip service...thanks for inviting me to the discussion.
Hi Nadia, I am a public defender in philly and a prison abolitionist--also a pastor's kid finding her way back to church/Jesus. I just wrote a prayer (inspired by the prayers you write) for people who are incarcerated. Can I share it with you?
yes!!
Yay :) okay here it is!
Holy God hear our prayer:
For those languishing in jail, and for those forgotten in prison.
For those who have been harmed, and for those who have harmed.
For the innocent, and for those who did that shit.
For the dads who blow kisses through glass, and for the moms who only get to hug you at the beginning and end of each visit.
For those who have no one, and for those who can pack a court room.
For the spouses who celebrate their anniversary over a 15 minute phone call, and for the lovers who share intimate thoughts in letters read by corrections officers.
For those who have found healing, and for those whose anger feels more inescapable than any physical prison ever could.
For those who still laugh and joke on the phone with their loved ones, and for those who can’t stomach a call home.
For those who lost custody of their children, and for those who raise them over phone calls, letters, and visits.
For those working through their appeals, and for those who find it easier to give up than to keep hope alive.
For those who never get any fresh air, and for those who had to stand in the rain for an hour before the guards would let them back in.
For those who never learned how to read, and for those who got degrees they may never use.
For those who didn’t get to say goodbye to their dying loved ones, and for those who will die alone in their cell.
For those who took the blame so their friends didn’t have to, and for those whose friends have forgotten them.
For everyone who has lost their freedom and for their loved ones who still show up, we pray.
We pray for peace, for redemption and for grace. We pray for better days and we pray for enough commissary to get them through the lockdown. We pray for better legislation and we pray for different narratives. We pray for a world where everyone has what they need and we pray for forgiveness for creating a society where prison exists. We pray that the system will be dismantled and the walls torn down. We pray for freedom.
We pray this to a God who can do all of this and more, amen.
Well shit, this right after my comment on your last podcast outtake post - - sure seems like redemption lies in God and grace, not in anyone or anything else.
These are wonderful, Nadia. I am so grateful for you and your sharing of your story and these stories.
Redemption comments take me back to my church days and ..."by grace through faith..." yet I am thinking that there must be demonstration of faith through action. Is faith active or passive? Pondering and thinking I need to up my action side in the equation or else it is all lip service...thanks for inviting me to the discussion.