How Can Prison Be a Gift?

As a prisoner it is easy to get stuck focusing on the losses one experiences in coming to prison. We lose our freedom, both our physical freedom and our ability to freely make many daily choices that others take for granted. Many prisoners also lose money they've saved, relationships they've built, formerly good reputations, and even hope for a future.

Prisoners who have thought deeply about their crimes also focus on the losses they caused others. We prisoners are not the only ones who lost out because we came to prison. Our families suffer many losses too. The communities to which we belonged also suffer losses. And, most importantly, our victims and their families suffer losses, many of which we are powerless to make right. So, loss is a constant theme in prison.

When I recently mentioned to a friend some of the things prison has taken from me, this friend asked, "But what has prison given you?" It was a profound question I haven't been able to get out of my mind. Prison has given me some things, for which I am very grateful. Although I would never choose prison, without my prison experience I wouldn't be the person I am today. Instead, I'd still be stuck in the same pointless and harmful patterns of my past. Prison has provided for me the setting I needed so I could make critical changes in my life.

Just a few of the many things prison has given me include:

1. Time and space for deep self-reflection--these are critical for facing and healing from past hurt, deeply embedded insecurities, and faulty thinking and belief patterns.

2. Surprising friendships--some of the strongest and most authentic friendships I've ever formed have been with other prisoners. These men will be lifelong friends.

3. Time for education--I've been blessed with an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree while incarcerated. My life prior to prison would not have afforded the time for such an accomplishment.

4. Exposure to different people--it's easy to become insular in our lives. Prison has exposed me to people and cultures I would never have known outside of prison, and the experience has made me more compassionate and aware of others' hardships.

5. A greater awareness of (in)justice--exposure to the often unjust "justice" system has heightened my awareness of the injustices I've caused and that others daily experience. It has also opened my eyes to the brokenness of a system I formerly thought was fair.

6. A space for deep theological reflection--life's busy-ness in the free world affords little time to think deeply about one's beliefs. Prison has given me the space for deep theological reflection where I have learned the importance of living out my faith authentically in all I do.

Yes, prison takes a lot from those who are incarcerated. But it gives a lot too, if one is ready to receive it. Prison sucks, yes, but it can also be a gift received with gratefulness if one wishes to be positively changed by it.
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