Privilege

One to be used.

Mentoring in prison has heightened my awareness of privilege.  I asked in prayer one day whether we should drop our club memberships.  The answer I received was “Do you think dropping memberships makes you any less privileged?”

That got me to think about privilege differently.  For me, the issue is no longer privilege.  It is how I use the privilege I have.

I now actively use my privilege to help men and women who have been released from prison adjust to the outside world.  When a person is released from prison in Texas, no matter how long they have served, they are given $100.  They don’t have a driver’s license or other means of identification acceptable to banks or most employers.  Unless they have a supportive family, they face almost insuperable challenges.  No wonder so many return to prison.

I’m less shy about asking for donations for worthy causes.  I’ve made bank introductions, forwarded job inquiries and solicited professionals to donate their professional expertise when it can make a difference. 

Privilege is indeed a privilege.