Spent the whole day with a couple of nice folks today. It wasn’t over coffee or a meal. It was sitting with them in a court house waiting for a close relative of theirs to be arraigned. What was interesting about my experience was that it felt like another side of the call to serve in ministry that isn’t talked about a whole lot in seminary. Another side that is definetly like serving as a chaplain in a hospital.

Ministry to those facing the possibilty of a long term prison sentence in some ways is like spending time with folks in the hospital. Same feelings in some ways are expoused. If you’ve been a chaplain you understand what I am talking about. I wished I could of been able to do something. I had written a character refernce for this person. I met the attorney. I spent time with the family. I even just sat for a while waiting. Just being present. Being still.

When I arrived back to the court house after lunch, I was able to see this relative who’d we been waiting for all day. Of course from a distance and with several inches of glass in between us and the courtroom. I couldn’t help but catch this persons glance. The eyes of this person spoke volumes to what they were experiencing sitting on the other side of the glass. The tears being held back and the need to be strong as preparation for the journey this person was about to face is nothing I ever want to face. Nothing any one should have to ever face.

I quietly put both of my hands together gesturing that I’d be praying for this person. The person caught my gesture and did the same. That was about it. All I could do. As we left the couthouse again all I could was share with these couple of folks that I’d be there for them if they needed something and to keep me in the loop about their relative. I’d try to visit this relative of theirs when I was able. The imprint of today will be with me for a long time.

Again, I learned something today that I didn’t learn in seminary.

Can’t fix everything.

                                Just listen.

                                             And be still.

 Of couse as I left the court house, two cats in navy blue clothing given to them as gifts by the court, who were being released from prison, walked through the front doors of the courthouse and into the beautiful heat freedom filled day. Both threw their arms into the air and shook each others hands and walked off into the sunset with a smile. Freedom does have that ability to make us smile.

Had to smile for them. 

What a day.