Len
Well-Known Member
I was asked to write about an experience of prison and God I had in under 500 words for a prison newsletter and thought I would share it here too ..... and yet I still struggle with being in His family, go figure!....
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I remember being afraid and alone when that cell door first slammed behind me at 17yo. That cell on the second story was right next to a walkway between two blocks and I had unknowingly been walking over a trapdoor with the noose’s beam above it many times before realising what it was, a gallows. And while awaiting sentencing on February the Third, 1967 I was there when the last man was hung in that prison and I saw through my doors peep hole some of that drama! That trapdoor had a very loud finality about it.
Around seven years later as a single father sharing a house with a female hippie who one day came home converted to Christianity brought home this straight laced guy who talked me through some bible verses about sin and judgement. I can still remember how the hair on the back of my neck stood on end when I realised that sin and judgement were real; God was real; Jesus could save me if I would trust HIM with my soul, I did and my life was never the same again.
A number of years later my wife and I went to a craft market at that old prison, my first return to that very section from my remand days.
I was reiterating the story to her under the beam when a uniformed prison guide came up informing us about the last man hung so I commented that I was “there” when it happened but he said "No you weren't, as I have it on good authority all the prisoners were removed before the event". I was quite embarrassed as he had just called me a liar so I wanted to get away from him but he followed asking questions about prison life and eventually cornered me in the old guard station area where the craft market admin people were working and as we stood there an older guy comes looking for this guide and introduces himself as the old prison governor (funnily his first day back too) and quick as a flash the guide says "well you can settle a dispute for me, as this guy (pointing to me) says he was in here when Robert Ryan was hung but I have it on good authority the prisoners were all removed, which is it?, the ex governor says "do you think it’s easier to march men a kilometre or turn a key?, to his credit the guide apologised then left with the governor, but suddenly from behind I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turn to a voice saying that it was obvious I had been in the prison but they could see I had changed, and they wanted to know what made me change, as they worked with street kids and he wanted to know if there was some sort of hope for them ..... and the beauty of being able to tell someone who made the difference in my life was that it helped both of us see a future hope.
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I remember being afraid and alone when that cell door first slammed behind me at 17yo. That cell on the second story was right next to a walkway between two blocks and I had unknowingly been walking over a trapdoor with the noose’s beam above it many times before realising what it was, a gallows. And while awaiting sentencing on February the Third, 1967 I was there when the last man was hung in that prison and I saw through my doors peep hole some of that drama! That trapdoor had a very loud finality about it.
Around seven years later as a single father sharing a house with a female hippie who one day came home converted to Christianity brought home this straight laced guy who talked me through some bible verses about sin and judgement. I can still remember how the hair on the back of my neck stood on end when I realised that sin and judgement were real; God was real; Jesus could save me if I would trust HIM with my soul, I did and my life was never the same again.
A number of years later my wife and I went to a craft market at that old prison, my first return to that very section from my remand days.
I was reiterating the story to her under the beam when a uniformed prison guide came up informing us about the last man hung so I commented that I was “there” when it happened but he said "No you weren't, as I have it on good authority all the prisoners were removed before the event". I was quite embarrassed as he had just called me a liar so I wanted to get away from him but he followed asking questions about prison life and eventually cornered me in the old guard station area where the craft market admin people were working and as we stood there an older guy comes looking for this guide and introduces himself as the old prison governor (funnily his first day back too) and quick as a flash the guide says "well you can settle a dispute for me, as this guy (pointing to me) says he was in here when Robert Ryan was hung but I have it on good authority the prisoners were all removed, which is it?, the ex governor says "do you think it’s easier to march men a kilometre or turn a key?, to his credit the guide apologised then left with the governor, but suddenly from behind I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turn to a voice saying that it was obvious I had been in the prison but they could see I had changed, and they wanted to know what made me change, as they worked with street kids and he wanted to know if there was some sort of hope for them ..... and the beauty of being able to tell someone who made the difference in my life was that it helped both of us see a future hope.
ing for the Lord's encouraging direction for them...