Dues

You have never been imprisoned—not even to anything?

The dues one had to pay for having the privilege of being a volunteer at the first four-day retreat I attended inside the Torres Unit* were attending at least three Saturday team meetings each lasting from 8am until about 2pm, attending a Chaplain’s training session for four hours at a prison, and attending a session at Torres with the men in white** who had attended the retreat from 8am to 3pm on a Saturday following the retreat.  In addition, we were each to cover our own costs of $350, write 42 personalized letters (one to each man in white who attended the retreat) and bring 50 dozen cookies of a specified size.  Whew!

 The purpose of the three training sessions was to unite the team of volunteers.  We were introduced to the motto—“Listen, listen, love, love”.  We sang songs, prayed, met one-on-one and listened to presenters practice the talks they would give over the course of the retreat.  The meetings were positive and uplifting.  We were told that we would see God work powerfully in our midst during the retreat.

For my first one-on-one, I chose the guy next to me--Hispanic, not good English, didn't seem to be well-educated, older man--older than me (or at least he looked older).  As we talked, he asked me whether I had ever been in prison.  And I said--no.  And then he said—you have never been imprisoned—not even to anything?  And, of course, he had me there.  My mostly subconscious sense of superiority was punctured.  I wrestled with the attitude of superiority consciously from then on. 

*Torres Unit is a Texas state prison near Hondo, Texas.

**In Texas prisons, all inmates wear white.