On Monday, I had pastoral visits at Oshkosh Correctional. It's a space for residents of prison to be seen (really seen), listened to, and cared for; to talk about life and meditation; to deepen self-awareness and healing.
The national news is filled with fear and blame (what’s wrong with the world). I want to share a story *from prison* about what’s right with the world…
My first pastoral was with C, a black man from Milwaukee, a son and father, a good-hearted human being.
He led with “It’s my father’s birthday!” I was surprised by his lightness. His dad died unexpectedly three years ago and birthday anniversaries have been hard for C.
He’s celebrating his father’s birthday by giving a generous gift—a “random act of kindness”—because “that’s who my father was.”
Last night, he spoke on the phone to a life-long friend. She’s a teacher and a mom. She doesn’t make much money (blessings on teachers!), but she generously spends that money on books for her classroom, a winter coat for a kid who doesn’t have one, or extra supplies (which the school can’t provide).
During the pandemic, if a student didn’t appear in the Zoom classroom, she’d go to the kid’s home and check in.
C appreciates the hard, dedicated (unappreciated!) effort of his friend, plus she’s experiencing life “interrupting” (e.g., unexpected car repairs, appliances breaking down, pandemic aftermath).
He decided to give her a generous gift for his father’s birthday: “You know how you give gifts to people on their birthday? Well, my dad isn’t alive, but I’m giving the gift to my friend.”
This morning, he went to his unit manager and requested to send $100 to his friend. The manager’s eyes got wide. ($100 is the maximum amount. People in prison do not have money. They make pennies for the work they do.) She looked up his account and saw he had the money.
Then she asked (genuinely surprised) why he was doing this. He told her that a friend was in need and he wanted help. She said, “I wish I had friends like you!”
It’s C’s father’s birthday. He gave $100 to his friend. The prison manager is positively affected. I am buoyed. His friend is supported. (All teachers are supported!) His father is remembered. His mom is proud.
There’s light radiating from Oshkosh Correctional into the world. All from one genuine, generous act of kindness.
