I am home.
The last year has been a time for both a thoughtful retreat from my previous life and an unfettered time to make decisions on moving forward.
My downstate haven came at just the right time. The haven itself was rather secluded, but it was surrounded by “city,” something I had left behind many years before. The pace was faster, and I missed the very private spaces I’d become accustomed to for “thinking.”
After serious soul searching, some decisions gradually became clear. Most importantly, I realized how I did – and did not – want to spend the rest of my life.
I have hurt and had time to heal.While I suspect there will always be a part of me that continues to hurt, for the most part, I now feel able to move forward. I have returned to what I now consider my “forever home,” Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I am surrounded by nature. Whether near or far, my life has been made much fuller by supportive friends, friends who have become my family over the years. I feel blessed, hopeful, and am ready to move ahead.
As they often do, my thoughts turn toward prisoners – those I know who remain incarcerated, and those who have been released but who struggle to survive on their own. If we have family and friends, appreciate them. Too often, families do not remain in touch with loved ones who are sent to prison. Too often, friends drift away. Because felons are not allowed to associate with other felons upon release, any positive bonds achieved over their time of incarceration are severed.
How devastating it would be to have no one!
Take some time today to consider your blessings. You probably have more than you think you do. Perhaps there is someone to whom you’ve been intending to reach out. Consider especially those who have no one. Reach! Life is short. We ALL need SOMEONE. Surely, you have enough in your life to be the one to show that care!
The Prisoner's Prayer Book 