Thought for the Week: A light in the darkness
‘The Light’ can shine and reach into even what one may think are the darkest places
Dear Editor, I am not sure many letters come from this sort of establishment. Maybe this is the only one or one of the few. But it was important for me to relay the fact that ‘The Light’ can reach into the darkest of places.
I came into prison around sixteen months ago. I am a first-time offender in his forties. To say that my life fell apart at that time would be an understatement.
I am guilty as they come and totally deserving of my punishment for the destruction that I have caused. Because of my selfish actions many people have been left upset and emotionally scarred. I pray for them every day.
On coming into prison, first at HMP Hewell in Redditch, I was in pieces. Some would say quite deservedly. I had lost nearly all I loved and cared about and most people had instantly turned their back on me. I was on the edge.
Then I met a lovely Quaker lady. She did not judge me. She didn’t hate me. Every Friday she would come into the wing and listen. Talk. Support. Pray for me. If it had not been for her I honestly think that I would have become another unfortunate prison statistic. I owe my life to her.
She explained the Quaker way to me and brought me back into the light. She pulled me back from the brink. To her I will be eternally grateful. I was a little sad when I was transferred to another prison, but we have stayed in touch. I just wanted to say thank you.
When I arrived at the next prison I was glad to hear there was a small ‘Friends Meeting’ here and I met someone with as much compassion as the lady at Hewell. With the help of her and the massive help from the other clergy here I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Life is worth living.
It just shows that ‘The Light’ can shine and reach into even what one may think are the darkest places.
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