PRISON FELLOWSHIP: Lent

Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent, the 40-day (excluding Sundays) period of reflection and repentance preceding Easter.

For many Christians, Lent is a period of fasting—a chance to give up something they might otherwise enjoy as a reminder of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. 

From March 5 until April 20, Kent McKeever of Waco, Texas, wore orange prison clothes each day. He wore them to the grocery store, to the movies, to run a race, and even to jury duty.

McKeever, a youth pastor and lawyer, explains why he donned prison garb throughout Lent: “Even though it wasn’t real and I could explain myself and take it off at anytime, wearing the orange prison uniform gave me an opportunity to listen to the songs of the oppressed in ways I could never hear and experience as a white male with a middle-class, professional background.”

When we don’t forgive, we drink the poison ourselves and then wait for the other person to die. And we take the knife that has hurt us and we stab ourselves with it again. …

But when we forgive, we pour out the poison of the enemy and of the devil and we don’t let the poison stay in us and we don’t let the poison make us into poisonous snakes!

“What on earth would make her do that?” I wondered when my friend’s daughter recently walked out on her husband. “They seemed so together, successful, a good looking family, decent friends, a nice big home, members of the church – What will become of her and the kids, the husband, and their families — What could possibly lead to such a drastic decision?” 

For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, I promise – I do In sickness and in health, from now until forever, I’ll always love you, and so with, all of my heart, till death do us part I do, I promise I’ll always love you

– Jessica Foker, “I Do”

You could hardly blame the anguished Nepalese mother for abandoning her family. 

Who are you to judge the life I live I know I’m not perfect, and I don’t live to be, but before you start pointing fingers make sure your hands are clean.

-Bob Marley, “Judge Not”

“Your son should be ashamed of himself, he is a disgrace,” a woman told my father, pointing at me accusingly. 

Ten years ago on a cold dark night, Someone was killed ‘neath the town hall light. There were few at the scene, but they all agreed, That the slayer who ran, looked a lot like me.

– Johnny Cash, “Long Black Veil”

For many people the experience of betrayal feels like “the kiss of death.”