There is a young woman in the jail Circle who is dealing with serious grief. I went to visit her, though she hadn’t requested a visit. She was very grateful and we talked for quite some time. There were tears of grief, regret, and loneliness, but there was also hope and new direction. She is new to all things religious, a former cynic. She is giving faith in God a try.

This week was her third time attending Circle. As soon as we got in our classroom she handed me a prayer song she had written. She said she had a tune but couldn’t remember it very well. I asked her if she would read it for us, which she did toward the end of our time. I also asked if I could share it with others and she readily agreed to that as well. I told her it would be anonymous; she said I could use her name. I told her when she got out, if she still wanted to, we would share her name as well.

Her prayer song was inspired by the stories we have been learning in Mark about John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism and testing. One thing we focussed on was how God told Jesus, “I love you; I’m very pleased with you.” I said that I believe God feels that way about each of us and we should listen to hear the words addressed to us as well as to Jesus. This young woman is beginning to hear and to believe that good news.

Shattered

How could God forgive me again?
Will I ever learn? Probably not…
But Jesus knows where you’ve been
He knows every hurt we’ve got…

(chorus)
he says “I’ve been here all along,
Even when you pull away.
Through the right and wrong,
I stand by you every day.”

Tears flow as she cried
“my heart’s just too shattered”
Jesus said, “That’s why I died
Saving you is what mattered!”

She finally took his hand
Letting Jesus lead the way
He will always understand
His life he chose to pay…

(chorus)
he says “I’ve been here all along,
Even when you pull away.”
Through the right and wrong,
he stood by you every day.

The cause is never lost
It’ll never be too late
No matter what the cost,
Jesus turns your pathway straight…

September 27, 2017
Montgomery OH County Jail