Broken Bridges

I had just finished my worship practice and was about to head to my cell. Then suddenly one of the guys asked me to sit with him. He is a 75-year-old man and has been in prison for 31 years. He is one of the biggest Christian leaders in this prison system and also a close friend of mine. When I sat down with him I sensed something different in his demeanor. Though he tried, he couldn’t say anything for a long time. He looked like a young man who was nervous, excited and anxious about something. He seemed scared but at the same time there was Joy in his tears. Finally, he said, ‘My sister sent me the address of my oldest son whom I haven’t seen or spoken to in 30 years.’

 

When he first came to prison, his son used to visit him often. But his son’s wife belonged to a prominent family and was involved in politics. Therefore, his son decided to spare the family of embarrassment and cut all ties with his father. That was the last time that the father heard from his son, 30 years ago.  In those 30 years, my friend started following Jesus faithfully. He got married and just celebrated his 19^th wedding anniversary with his wife on a video call. In these 30 years, he once died of a heart attack for six minutes, but God brought him back to life. A lot has happened in these 30 years.

 

We sat with each other for a long time. Though we consider ourselves pretty tough, and try to hide our emotions, we shed few tears together. He was telling me all the things his son used to like. He reminisced with me the childhood memories of his son. We mourned the loss of 30 years. Then he asked me what he should write to his son. I (who has barely completed the ‘uncle course’) said, ‘I do not have a clue.’ He replied, ‘Hmmm… That is good. I should start with that.’ And then He whispered, ‘I used to be a cold-hearted man. I never even cried at my dad’s funeral. But God has totally changed me and my heart. Now, just looking at the address brings tears of joy and reminds me of His grace and redemption.’ We prayed for God to give him the words to write, and also for the son, the grace to receive it in joy and thanksgiving.

 

One of the most important things I have learned after coming to prison is that relationships are important, and they ought to be honored, protected and treasured. My relationship with Jesus is the most important thing in my life. After that, it’s my family and the friends who chose to stick by me during this time. My relationship with my Lord is infinitely better in prison than it was when I was physically free, and because of that my relationship with my family is way closer now than before. But one thing I often pray for is for the broken relationships in my life to be healed one day. I learned the hard way that life is too short to tear relationships down.

 

But what hurts me more is that the people who are ‘free’ get upset with one another, give each other the silent treatment, and live in a prison of their own. In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus says, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”

 

Many of us do not have a choice for the restrictions that we are put in. Even if we want to reconcile, we are legally not allowed to do so. We want to mend the broken relationships, but we are helpless. Yet anyone who is reading this in the free world who has the option to turn around, please do. I do not want you to mourn over the years like my friend has for 30 years. Do not let the locust eat away anymore than it already has. We are helpless and cannot do anything about our relationships right now, but you can. 

 

Joel 2:25-26

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost
to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,
the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.
It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.

Once again you will have all the food you want,
and you will praise the Lord your God,
who does these miracles for you.
Never again will my people be disgraced.