From The Inside

Sick of Violence??

I've been off sick all week.  Hoped to get back today, but it hasn't happened, so hopefully will be next Monday now.  My boss has been really good, telling me not to hurry back and already cancelling meetings I have next week so that I don't feel pressurised to return before I'm ready (I'm putting that down to being caring rather than enjoying the peace and quiet of me not being there!).

Just got a virus which is proving difficult to shift.  Mid-way through my second course of antibiotics.  Think I'm getting there!?

The thing is, the thought of being off unwell always seems better than the reality.  The image is being tucked up in bed all snug and warm, reading all those books I never seem to have the time to do.  The reality is feeling too yucky to care, and too tired to concentrate longer than a few pages at a time.

Another thing I am realising however, is that since working in a prison I find crime, violence and murder less and less appealing as subjects of entertainment and relaxation.  I used to like nothing more than a mindless and harmless who-dunnit as light reading - such as a good Peter Robinson, P.J. Tracy or Ian Rankin.  I now find them too close to comfort to be all that enjoyable - I hear too many tales of real violence and horror on a day to day basis to be detached enough to read it as "light" reading.  (It's amazing however how popular real crime stories are in the prison libraries!).

The same is true for films and TV - even the programmes I used to enjoy such as "Street Wars" or "Police, Camera, Action" I sometimes feel uncomfortable to watch, because I know it has been the real past of many of those I work with. 

Maybe I'll get used to this - after all it's harmless isn't it?  Or is it indeed weird that in this violent and sometimes lawless culture that we are living in, that we still enjoy crime as a form of entertainment?

TV Under The Bushel?

"No one lights a TV and hides it ... under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” (Luke 8:16 – slightly paraphrased)

Preachers and ministers don’t often really expect their congregations and hearers to change as a result of what they say – well ideally they do, but realistically...  , However I’ve found that in prison, just occasionally, the prisoners go and literally do what you say. That makes it a little bit of a scarey responsibility.

At this week’s Monday group, which is a Bible study (loosely called!) at which most of the guys are fairly serious about learning more about Jesus – we were talking about what God can do in someone’s life, but how we need to be at that place of really wanting Him to – of being desperate. We also spoke about some of the cost which that may involve – and I made the comment that sometimes it starts with turning off the TV.  I talked about how when reading “The Cross And The Switchblade” again recently I was struck by the fact that the whole story of Teen Challenge came about when David Wilkerson decided to stop watching so much TV and instead use the time for prayer and Bible study.  In the midst of doing that, God put a passion in his heart to help the gang members of New York – many miles away.   (Go read the story!)

Next day one the guys told me that following the meeting on Monday, he and his cell-mate, who is also a Christian, went back to their cell and put their TV under the bed, and the Playstation in the cupboard. They have made a pact that all they will watch will be Rangers matches, and the film premier on Sky Movies on a Saturday night.

I maybe should have been happy and congratulated them – instead I felt the blood drain from my face as inwardly I freaked. “Guys” I said – “it’s about getting a balance, and what our priorities are. Setting realistic targets that we can keep” – and on I rambled.  They just laughed!

Today I went back to try again – the TV is, after all, the only entertainment they really have once they are locked in their cells at night. I was genuinely concerned that they were overdoing it. But they were having none of it. “Graham”, one of them said to me today, “before, when I read my Bible it was a case of doing it between breaks in my Playstation game or between programmes. I did it as fast as I could to get it done. Last night I sat with a jotter and read it seriously and took notes – and I got so much out of it.” He then went on to tell me that once he had done that, he started to read an introduction to theology book by Alister McGrath – and couldn’t put it down! (Where he got the book from I do not know!). He couldn’t believe it when he looked at his clock and saw that it was 1.30am!

He told me how he had read all about how the canon of the New Testament was put together, and about some of the books like the Gospel of Thomas was left out. “That was OK” he said, “but then it went on to Augustine and that was great!”. He started telling me about the Donatists, Arius, Pelagius – and other names I could hardly remember from Early Church History classes. I couldn’t believe how much he was remembering. “There is no way we’re going back to spending our evenings watching rubbish.” I gave up. I don’t think it will last long-term (is that terrible of me?) but who was I to go against what they were obviously enjoying?

This guy is 23. He left school before 16 and before getting any qualifications. He never went to church and has only been a Christian for about 6 months. He had no time for church on the outside, but said he often saw the folk go into the one round the corner from his home – because they were going in as he was making his way home from the night before – rather the worse for wear.  His social workers inside and outside the prison – some of whom have worked with him now for years – have been in touch with me to say that they can’t get away with the change in this guy. (His community social worker said that in 16 years of social work he had never seen anything like this!). His parents are over the moon – and even sent me in a lovely Christmas card, and not inexpensive present to thank me for the part I have played in his change (I assured them a very small part!).

What am I to do? Tell him not to be silly and watch more TV? No. Maybe I should go and see if my telly will fit under my bed!

Criminality

Warning - I'm going to be political and controversial here...

But can anyone tell me why when folk (statistically those from the most deprived areas - i.e. the poor) steal a pair of trousers from a shop, commit a breach of the peace on the street, don't pay their TV licenses, have a punch-up outside the pub - they inevitably end up in court and often prison - yet when a rich, public service organisation (i.e. ITV) criminally and deliberately defraud and steal £8M from the public (including the poor) under false pretences - those who are culpably responsible don't even lose their job??  (Read the full story)

The News

Just wondering - if all these floods had not taken place in the south of England, what would the news programmes be bringing us?  What is happening out there that we are not getting to know - but which would have been the headlines had it not rained, and rained - and rained!?  I want to know!!  What am I missing??  What are they not telling us??