See You Later

We said good bye to Chris tonight. Maybe not forever, but probably for a very long time. I haven't known him very long, and can't even say I know him well. I don't know what his last name is, where he comes from, who his family is or even what his favorite sport is. All I really know about him is that he has a great love for Christ and that at some time he must have done something that I can't begin to understand.

You see, Chris is an inmate at the local prison we visit once a week. For the past few months he's been there every Tuesday that I've been able to get in for worship serice. He has always made it a point to ask me how I am, and if my wife Michelle isn't there, how she's doing. Now I have to admit: sometime I'm not a great judge of peoples character. I often take people at face value and am fooled by their demeanor. However, a friend of mine described Chris as a guy "who if I met on the outside might invite over for dinner". And Michelle, a much better judge of character than me, refers to him as "a nice guy, friendly, considerate and strong in his faith".

So I was surprised a few weeks ago when he informed us that he had been convicted at his trial and was now facing a life sentence. Based on the sentence, I can guess at what he must have done. Yet somehow, this conservative, tough on crime republican, isn't happy that he "got what he deserved". I feel sympathy and concern. Why? Because he has given his life to Christ. It's not phoney. There are no judges, or probation officer's in that chapel, so he's not putting on an act. He has a love for Jesus that all of us have recognized.

He seems resigned to his future. Maybe he's read Exodus 34:7 - "maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished". Maybe he understands that he must pay for his actions, but that God forgives the repentant sinner. Maybe he is living the Serenity Prayer, one of my favorites: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference."

I can only hope that wherever he goes he continues to carry his faith with him and does whatever he can to bring the story of the sacrifice of Christ in all of his travels.

An amazing thing happened this week. Last week, Chris told me that this would be his last service at the prison. That the following Thursday, he would be heading on to his new "home". When I told Michelle that, she was disappointed that she wouldn't be able to be there. Yet two days later we get an e-mail from our daughters' dance teacher that there would be no classes this Tuesday. Michelle was able to come with me this week, and was able to worship one more time with Chris.

Good Luck Chris. We're praying for you.

Say a prayer for somebody today.