Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Beauty for Ashes

A person with gray hair and a gray sweatshirt and gray pants just came into my office and emptied my trash. This person barely looked up, only asked quickly if I had a trash can to empty. This person moved stiffly. I wanted to swoop in and help them, but there was no invitation for help. There was no expression on their face. It was such an odd exchange.

Last Monday (11/13) our ministry sponsored a community forum re-introducing the community to the Citizen Circle. (http://www.drc.state.oh.us/web/citizen/citizencircle.htm) We had a panel presenting information. On our panel was an ex-offender who has a private business operating in 5 counties. He hires many ex-offenders and is quite successful. There was an educator who gave some wonderful statistics supporting the value and importance of education while incarcerated. The third guest was a gentleman who earned his BA while in prison and is now employed as a case manager with an agency in Columbus that does similar things that we do—only his agency is huge! He was imprisoned for 25 years. The final guest was our county’s Common Pleas Judge. They made wonderful presentations. It was very informative for the 25-30 community people who were present.

When they were done, Dan (our director who moderated) turned to me and asked me (in front of the whole crowd) to tell my story. Deep breath. There was a friend from church sitting next to me. He didn’t know many details of my story or my crime. He would now. I started by talking about my mean old PO who demanded that I get a job—she was sitting two rows back. When it was all over, I was amazed with how much I said, including specifically identifying that my crime was a sexual offense. At the end my friend hugged me and told me that he was so glad I was his friend. It just blessed my heart.

A couple days ago Dan brought a guy he was working with into my office. He introduced me and told the guy that he would let me tell him my story later (thanks Dan). Then he quickly asked me to answer a question—ok. “Do you think someone could be content making $5.50 an hour?” I searched Dan’s face, wishing desperately that I had taken that mind reading course. What was he going for? “Yes.” I answered quickly, and honestly. Dan grinned quite largely, thanked me, and whisked the guy out of office as quickly as he had swooped in. The guy was adamant that no one could be content making that kind of money. Guess he just needed to meet me.

We have a new web page—quite spiffy and completely under construction yet. There’s a picture of me there (transformationnetwork.org). We have a newsletter coming out next month and Dan asked me to write an article for it. I’ll close with what I wrote:

In 2004 I moved to Ashland and was immediately faced with the daunting task of finding a job. I came with a felony conviction and found that the employers I contacted were not interested in giving me a chance. That’s when I was put in touch with the Transformation Network.

Dan and Bob seemed extremely apologetic as they offered me a job that would pay only $5.50 an hour. It seemed a low wage to offer someone with three masters degrees like I have. I was quick to accept the wage and the job (sight unseen) because $5.50 beat $0 all to pieces!

I started with the packaging program, seeing quickly areas of organizational need that would increase not only our production, but also the quality of our work. The management at the Reineke company saw my efforts and offered me a position with their company supervising the T-Net work program. I began work for them in March 2005. I worked in that position and in the factory until October 2006.

In August of this year, Dan came and presented me with an opportunity to work full-time with this ministry. I would still supervise the packaging program but also work the re-entry contracts that we have in Huron and Erie counties.

After I committed my crime and began the arduous task of rebuilding my life, I seriously doubted how God would ever be able to use me again. Dear friends would try to encourage me by telling me that they believed that God wasn’t through with me yet. I politely nodded, but held tight to my doubts.

The physical labor of the packaging program and in the factory gave much opportunity to be in prayer—I so desperately felt out of my element. It was in the attitude of prayer that God began to reshape my attitude and rebuild my trust. When Dan did come and offer this position to me, I was taken completely by surprise. It was that moment when I completely released the doubts and began to fully experience the truth Jesus preached as a young man in the synagogue:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that the captives will be released and prisoners will be freed…To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. (Isaiah 61:1-3, NLT)”

Beauty for ashes…that’s what this has seemed like for me. To again be associated with a ministry focused restoring people was more than I had hoped for but it was always the desire of my heart. Our faithful God made that happen and for that I can’t help but be abundantly thankful! The even more exciting thing I’ve realized is that as good as this is—He still more in store for me. And I believe He does for you, too!

There’s more going on in life…I’ll write about children, grandchildren, new teeth, and impending divorces very soon.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post!

Judy - www.judyh58.blogspot.com

Saija said...

may our thanksgiving be as special as you are ... and blessed, as you bless others!